The LIV Golf-PGA Tour rivalry has been going on for quite some time now. It is almost a year since the deadline for the merger was passed, and yet there were no announcements for the same. However, it looks like there might be some updates regarding the same. According to a recent post, both leagues have managed to close a staggering $1.3 billion deal!
A new series of meetings took place between them since September through the following months, and it turns out they might be coming down to an agreement finally. According to The Sun UK, the deal is pending final approval. Reports suggest that LIV Golf will operate under the PGA Tour umbrella and will receive an 11% stake in the league.
Moreover, PGA Tour veterans Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who were previously strong critics of the Saudi-backed circuit, have reportedly played crucial roles in facilitating the agreement. However, that is not it. So far, there have been no credible sources to confirm it. Thus, Flushing It Golf shared the same post of NUCLR Golf on their official X account and wrote, “Important context: nobody with any credibility thinks it’s true and I’d be amazed if the first publication that got the leak on this was The Sun!”
Important context: nobody with any credibility thinks it’s true and I’d be absolutely amazed if the first publication that got the leak on this was The Sun! https://t.co/zcJzNYVUaA
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) November 2, 2024
Well, as it turns out, the golf community has already been put under so much delusion, with several expectations. Even they do not believe that the news is of any truth.
The golf community accuses the media of cracking jokes
The entire golf community came together and stated how they believe when the report says there have been no credible sources to it so far. Jay Monahan signed the framework agreement with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia on June 6, 2023. The agreement was to create an alliance between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PIF, which finances the rival LIV Golf League. The original deadline for the deal was December 31, 2023, but as of August 28, 2024, the merger was still being finalized. This was before the new meetings started taking place.
It is pretty much obvious as to why they do not trust the news so easily. Taking to this, one of them commented, “It states that in the tweet itself that it has yet to be collaborated by anyone with credibility. Crazy”.
Additionally, the update was given by The Sun. Top golf media like Golf Monthly, Golf Digest, Golf Week, or even Golf Tips, for that matter, have no news of it. Generally, be it an interview or an event update, it is always these websites that have the biggest news. Taking to this, one of them commented, “Yep it’s hard to figure that The Sun got the biggest scoop in the golf world.”
While some of them simply took the entire thing as a joke and left comments like, “April 1 already?” And “April Fools in November.”
Prominent figures in golf, including Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, have expressed their apprehensions about the potential impact of LIV Golf on the traditional tour. McIlroy has stated that a merger could dilute the prestige of established events and harm the overall competitive balance in golf. Woods has similarly highlighted the importance of preserving the historical values of the game.
Taking to this, one of them commented, “A deal between the USPGAT and Liv would be a disaster for world golf. No deal, all that is needed is an association agreement with a freedom of movement clause.”
