The PGA Tour has agreed to merge with rival circuit LIV Golf in a deal that may finish the break up within the skilled males’s sport.
The shock announcement comes after a 12 months of unprecedented disruption within the males’s sport following LIV’s launch. It means pending authorized disputes between the excursions will now cease and they’re going to transfer ahead as a bigger enterprise, though no particulars about how both will function or what gamers will probably be enjoying in what occasions has been given.
An settlement has been signed that may mix the PGA Tour and LIV’s business operations and rights into a brand new, yet-to-be-named for-profit firm. The settlement consists of the DP World Tour, previously referred to as the European Tour.
It’ll imply that LIV golfers will have the ability to apply to rejoin the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour ought to they so want for subsequent season.
Solely final month noticed Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson resign their memberships of the DP World Tour, thus giving up any likelihood of qualifying, captaining, or being picked to play on this 12 months’s Ryder Cup. As issues stand, they are going to nonetheless not have the ability to participate in September’s matches in Rome because the new-look excursions will solely take form after this season has been accomplished, which within the PGA Tour’s case is the top of August, and within the DP World Tour’s case in mid-November. The brand new deal does imply that every one the aforementioned gamers could be within the working to play and captain future European Ryder Cup groups ought to they reapply to hitch the DP World Tour subsequent season.
“After two years of disruption and distraction, it is a historic day for the sport everyone knows and love,” stated PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “This transformational partnership acknowledges the immeasurable energy of the PGA TOUR’s historical past, legacy and pro-competitive mannequin and combines with it the DP World Tour and LIV – together with the staff golf idea – to create an organisation that may profit golf’s gamers, business companions and followers. Going ahead, followers may be assured that we are going to, collectively, ship on the promise we’ve all the time made – to advertise competitors of the most effective in skilled golf and that we’re dedicated to securing and driving the sport’s future.”
The emergence of the LIV circuit has fractured males’s skilled golf during the last 12 months, with a number of high gamers lured by large prize funds and no-cut occasions, which characteristic a staff format. LIV Golf is backed by the Saudi Arabia Public Funding Fund (PIF), an entity managed by the Saudi crown prince and which has been embroiled in anti-trust lawsuits with the PGA Tour during the last 12 months.
“This can be a momentous day – to associate on this new entity is energizing and thrilling,” stated DP World Tour chief govt Keith Pelley. “We’re delighted to have the ability to not solely reignite our relationship with PIF, but additionally to have the chance to construct on our present Strategic Alliance partnership with the PGA TOUR. Collectively we will probably be stronger than ever and effectively positioned to proceed to carry the sport to all corners of the globe. To associate on this new entity and affect the expansion of the sport for all our DP World Tour members is energizing and thrilling.”
PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan stated: “We’re dedicated to unifying, selling and rising the sport of golf all over the world and providing the highest-quality product to the numerous thousands and thousands of long-time followers globally, whereas cultivating new followers. There isn’t any query that the LIV mannequin has been positively transformative for golf. We consider there are alternatives for the sport to evolve whereas additionally sustaining its storied historical past and custom. This partnership represents the most effective alternative to increase and improve the impression of golf for all. We stay up for collaborating with Jay and Keith to carry the most effective model of the sport to communities all over the world.”
Greg Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf, was not talked about or quoted in any of the official information releases concerning the brand new deal, and it’s unclear a this time what position he can have within the new partnership between the three excursions.
Early response from tour gamers, all of whom came upon concerning the merger on Twitter, quite than by official channels, has been understandably blended. Bernd Wiesberger, who joined LIV Golf final season, wrote: “Widespread sense has prevailed!”, whereas Phil Mickelson, one of many first time signal yp to the Saudi circuit merely wrote: “Superior day at this time!” alongside a hyperlink to the information story. Canadian golfer Mackenzie Hughes, who performs on the PGA TOUR, felt considerably in a different way, writing: “Nothing like discovering out on Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we stated we’d by no means try this with.”
