The PGA TOUR, DP World Tour, and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) have announced a significant agreement that will bring together men’s professional golf under one unified entity. While it’s not clear how this would affect what the LIV Golf League looks like in 2024, PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a memo to players that a thorough evaluation would determine how to integrate team golf into the game.
The new entity has yet to be named. There was no mention in the release as to the status of golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman, LIV Golf’s CEO, and commissioner. Many golfers from both leagues were not made aware of the merger and found out on social media.
This landmark agreement aims to promote and grow the game of golf on a global scale, benefiting all stakeholders involved while also resolving ongoing litigation. “They were going down their path, we were going down ours, and after a lot of introspection you realize all this tension in the game is not a good thing,” Monahan said in a phone interview with The Associated Press.
Saying it brings an end to two years of disruption and distraction, he called it a historic day for golf. “We have a responsibility to our tour and to the game, and we felt like the time was right to have that conversation,” he added.
He adds:
“This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA TOUR’s history, legacy and pro-competitive model and combines with it the DP World Tour and LIV – including the team golf concept – to create an organization that will benefit golf’s players, commercial and charitable partners and fans. Going forward, fans can be confident that we will, collectively, deliver on the promise we’ve always made – to promote competition of the best in professional golf and that we are committed to securing and driving the game’s future.”
Under the agreement, PIF’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights, including LIV Golf, will be combined with the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour. Additionally, the news allows for former PGA professionals to re-apply for membership with the PGA or DP World Tour, following the 2023 season. The aim is to determine fair criteria and terms of re-admission in line with the policies of each respective tour.
While already being met with polarizing reactions on social media, including from professional golfers, this groundbreaking agreement marks a significant step forward for the sport of golf, fostering unity and cooperation among major golf organizations.
How Will Players Who Turned Down LIV Golf Offers Feel?
Golfers like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods haven’t commented, but one has to wonder how they are feeling about this news. The PGA Tour was more than comfortable to let them go out and defend the tour week after week, while turning down hundreds of millions of dollars, while players like Phil Mickelson, Brooks Keopka, and Dustin Johnson accepted huge money deals to join. They now get to keep that money and reapply to the PGA Tour.
