The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have been in negotiations for a while now. The PGA Tour officials have defended their alliance with LIV Golf during Senate hearings 1. The two organizations have agreed to merge, which has opened up a new can of worms. The US Congress is preparing to look into the LIV-PGA merger amid sportswashing claims 2. The PGA Tour sought to assure players that they will have a say in the tour’s new partnership with the Saudi funders of LIV Golf 3. The joint news release that was issued by the golf bodies stated that the three organizations will work cooperatively and in good faith to establish a fair and objective process for any players who desire to re-apply for membership with the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour following the completion of the 2023 season and for determining fair criteria and terms of re-admission, consistent with each Tour’s policies 45.
There are rumors that more PGA Tour players will jump to LIV Golf for the 2024 season 67. Phil Mickelson has promised another exodus of golfers, including members of the PGA Tour, joining LIV Golf 6. British Open champion Cameron Smith’s long-rumored defection to LIV Golf is expected to happen after the conclusion of the Tour Championship 8. However, some PGA Tour players who turned down the LIV money feel frustrated about the merger 4. They are concerned about how LIV players, who banked lucrative signing bonuses to jump ship while others turned down the Saudi lucre, will be brought back into the fold 4. The joint news release that was issued by the golf bodies stated that the three organizations will work cooperatively and in good faith to establish a fair and objective process for any players who desire to re-apply for membership with the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour following the completion of the 2023 season and for determining fair criteria and terms of re-admission, consistent with each Tour’s policies 5.
The PGA Tour players who remained loyal and turned down obscene payouts to join the upstart Saudi-funded league are also concerned about their future 4. The joint news release that was issued by the golf bodies stated that the three organizations will work cooperatively and in good faith to establish a fair and objective process for any players who desire to re-apply for membership with the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour following the completion of the 2023 season and for determining fair criteria and terms of re-admission, consistent with each Tour’s policies 5. There are reports that those players could receive compensation in the form of equity in the newly formed entity 9.
In conclusion, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are in negotiations for a merger. The US Congress is preparing to look into the LIV-PGA merger amid sportswashing claims. There are rumors that more PGA Tour players will jump to LIV Golf for the 2024 season. The PGA Tour players who remained loyal and turned down obscene payouts to join the upstart Saudi-funded league are also concerned about their future. The joint news release that was issued by the golf bodies stated that the three organizations will work cooperatively and in good faith to establish a fair and objective process for any players who desire to re-apply for membership with the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour following the completion of the 2023 season and for determining fair criteria and terms of re-admission, consistent with each Tour’s policies.
