Much of the talk around the golfing world over the past year has been about talks of a potential merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to potentially bring back the continuity of the sport. And while we may still be a ways away from that merger becoming official, a major step was made in the process on Tuesday.
According to longtime golf writer Alan Shipnick, a “prominent agent” who has clients on both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf was told that a “draft agreement” was signed on Tuesday that finalizes Saudi investment in the PGA Tour.
Shipnuck further added that this is “definitive progress” in his eyes, but that there are further details to come on what it could potentially take to turn this “draft agreement” into an official merger.
A prominent agent who has clients on both tours tells me a “draft agreement” was signed today between PGA Tour Enterprises and the PIF to finalize Saudi investment in the Tour. This is definite progress but the devil is in the details, which have not yet been leaked.
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) June 11, 2024
Considering where we once were with LIV Golf and PGA Tour players sending shots back and forth at each other relentlessly, this is a significant improvement.
But still, there are some concerns about the potential merger that we will surely see from some of the players in both tours. Particularly on the PGA Tour side of things.
The likes of Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, and many others decided to defect to LIV Golf to take a massive payday. If a merger happens, they would then be able to walk back into action on the PGA Tour like nothing ever happened.
Obviously, this would have many PGA Tour players who decided to stay loyal and not leave for LIV feeling as if they were cheated in a way. So it will be interesting to see if there is any potential compensation that some loyal PGA Tour players receive if this merger is ultimately agreed upon.
Regardless, we are one step closer to having unity in golf again. Which is a clear positive for fans of the sport.
