So finally it happened. After two years of moral ostentation, public squabbles and a string of antitrust lawsuits, the PGA Tour and he announced that LIV Golf would merge as one organization. This coalition also includes the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour).
Big news for world golf
The new for-profit company, which has not yet been named, will combine the PGA and LIV Golf for-profit entities and end all pending litigation between the two sports bodies. The golf world is still processing this big news.
LIV Golf’s financial backer, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), has already poured $2 billion into LIV’s operations. PIF has pledged to invest billions more in the deal, but details have yet to be disclosed. Ironically, LIV Golf’s outspoken frontman, LIV Golf champion and former World No. 1 golfer Greg He Norman was kept out of the loop.
Approval required
The news comes after a groundbreaking merger between UFC and WWE was announced earlier this year. But according to PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour Policy Committee needs to approve the deal.
“There is a lot of work to be done between the framework agreement and the final agreement,” Monahan said in a memo. “But one thing is clear: With this transformative agreement and the co-investment of PIF, the immense strengths of the PGA TOUR’s history, heritage and competitive promotion model will not only remain intact, but will be strengthened for the future. It means that it will be done.”
All suggestions are welcome
Yasir Al Rumayyan, president of the PIF, said this week that the merger is expected to be completed in just a few weeks. He reiterated that all proposals for the project would be heard in future negotiations.
LIV Golf currently telecasts with The CW Network and has signed an agreement to live stream 14 international LIV Golf events beginning in February. A Nexstar Media Group representative explained that there will be no changes to the current LIV Golf schedule.
golf changed forever
The PGA’s rival association, LIV Golf, will launch in 2021. Since then, many high-profile PGA members have followed in the footsteps of PGA legend Phil Mickelson and signed up for the controversial Tour of LIV Golf. Elite-level PGA golfers, including Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepke, reportedly received lucrative contracts when agreeing to play at LIV Golf’s events.
However, the PGA fought back, banning all departing golfers from PGA Tour competition, stripping all competing European and American players from future Ryder Cups, and Team Europe from Swede Henrik Stenson. stripped of the team’s captaincy.
saudi arabia sport wash
Since then, the lawsuit has erupted in a war of words between PGA legend Tiger Woods and prominent golfers such as current PGA star Rory McIlroy, dividing golf fans around the world. there is
The schism stems from sportswash accusations amid Saudi human rights abuses, including the 2018 assault and murder of former Saudi national and American journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. .
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has since been implicated in his assassination, and he maintains strong ties to all Saudi-backed investments.
A sad day for the victims of 9/11
In addition, the charity 9/11 Families United statement It denounced the plan on its website, saying it was “shocked and deeply upset” by the news. “Saudi operatives were involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and now fully fund professional golf.”
In 2022, when Jay Monahan asked on national television if PGA golfers should apologize for playing on the PGA Tour, 9/11 Families United replied, “They are doing it now and So does he.”
