The Professional Golfers Association of America Tour and the LIV Golf may have agreed to merge early this year. But polishing the finer details may take a long time. Way past its 31 December deadline.
Golfing world holds in breath in anticipation of the next move of the two golf bodies as they try to join forces to become a powerhouse tour. Packed by the biggest names in the sport and flush with billions of dollars in Saudi investment which forms the LIV backbone.
But lately these talks have been rocked by the news of confirmed and impending transferees from the PGA stars, most especially Jon Rahm’s reported $600-million deal.
Only recently LIV chief Greg Norman said “more apples will fall” as an offshoot of Rahm’s move.
LIV had already recruited major winners Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith, but Rahm was arguably the biggest name yet to leave the PGA Tour.
That may well be a reason both camps continue to fail to agree.
The merger has been announced 6 June 6, but the New York Times reported that six months later PGA Tour people are still doubtful as to how the deal was forged in the first place.
“Since 6 June, trust has been broken at the top level,” Adam Scott, chairman of the Tour’s Player Advisory Council, was quoted as saying.
One of the big stars in the PGA, Scott won the 2013 Masters after turning pro in 2000. He will be part of the Tour board starting next month.
Coming from Scott, it could very well matter when it comes to voting.
“(Players) Ultimately are going to be responsible for the deciding vote,” admitted Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner.
One bone of contention is the fact that the deal would give the Saudi wealth fund (LIV Golf’s source of fund) an inroad into American golf.
It doesn’t sit right with bodies outside of the PGA including the Justice Department which intends to investigate possible antitrust violations. United States senators are also reportedly digging into the tour’s ties to Saudi Arabia.
