Wow. I was STUNNED just a few minutes ago reading this tweet from CNBC. Even with the gold checkmark, I didn’t believe it at first. LIV Golf debuted in London on June 9, 2022. And today, the PGA Tour has agreed to merge with the Saudi-backed rival tour less than a year later.
BREAKING: PGA Tour agrees to merge with Saudi-backed rival LIV Golf https://t.co/Q6aWvAc3A7
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) June 6, 2023
If you pay attention to golf, there’s no doubt you’re stunned. If you don’t pay attention to golf, you still likely know about the incredibly tense relationship between the tours.
The agreed-upon merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf would see the two tours put an end to their pending litigation. LIV Golf had filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA earlier this year.
The two tours signed an agreement that would combine the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s commercial business and rights into a new company. That new company has not yet been named
We still don’t know a ton, and I’m sure more details will emerge in the coming days. Having said that, I’m completely stunned. Since the inception of LIV, there has been an incredible amount of tension between the two tours.
Whether it’s been PGA star Rory McIlroy, golf legend Jack Nicklaus, TV analyst Brandel Chamblee, or any number of PGA Tour players there have been some harsh words directed toward the LIV Tour. Saudi funding has been a large issue of contempt. However, even Rory McIlroy admitted in recent weeks that the emergence of LIV Golf has been good for PGA Tour players. For the most part, it’s forced the PGA to get PGA Tour players more money and bigger purses.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan released this statement following the news:
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan: pic.twitter.com/OjvZWHnjxW
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) June 6, 2023
I think eventually people in the golf world thought this merger would be possible, if not inevitable … but I don’t think anyone saw this coming so soon. There is no doubt about it though, the tour merger is what’s best for professional golf from a product standpoint. We’ll get to see all the best players in the same fields a lot more often than just the four majors. LIV Golf players will see themselves earn Official World Golf Ranking points and be able to qualify for majors.
We’ll most certainly have more news on this as the day goes on and as more details emerge.
