If you can’t beat ’em… Yesterday the PGA Tour agreed to “join under one umbrella” with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, ending a heated rivalry. In a joint statement, LIV, the PGA, and DP World Tour (aka the European Tour) said they'd work together to combine their businesses and drive fan engagement. The merger will end all legal disputes between the tours, and potentially bring some champion players back under the PGA’s 94-year-old umbrella.
Green treaty: The PGA will have majority voting rights and control over the new entity (which doesn't have a name yet), but final details won’t come for a few months.
Mixed reviews: While some pros say the merger is good for the game, others are accusing the PGA of selling out to the controversial Saudi wealth fund (which has been accused of engaging in sportswashing). Some players missed out on hundreds of millions by refusing to work with LIV and stay loyal to the PGA.
Tough competition… LIV broke into pro golf last June, luring top-tier players with contracts worth $100M+ and record tournament prizes. But tensions were high: After LIV’s launch, the PGA Tour suspended 17 players, including champs Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, for competing in rival LIV’s first tournament. In return, LIV and a number of its players sued the PGA, arguing that the tour used monopoly power to prevent vendors, media companies, and others from working with them. Now they’re joining forces.
It's a new chapter for golf… The partnership could combine resources, sponsorships, and media rights. And it could benefit players and boost the sport’s popularity globally. But the controversy around using Saudi-backed $$ could also lead to tension between the newly created entity and players and fans.