PGA Tour and LIV announce shock merger to end bitter split

[ProudVirgin69]

June 6 (Reuters) - The world of golf was left stunned on Tuesday as the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and rival Saudi-backed LIV circuit, who have been involved in a bitter fight that has split the sport, announced a shock agreement to merge and form one unified commercial entity.

Additionally, the organizations said in a joint news release they will work together to allow a process for LIV Golf players to reapply for membership on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, formerly known as the European Tour, following the 2023 season.

The bombshell announcement was slammed by many PGA Tour players who were left in the dark about the merger and comes after a very public war of words between all the sides, mounting tensions and a bitter legal battle.

"After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love," said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, who had long been a vocal critic of LIV Golf.

[…]

The PGA had sought to fend off the competition by barring its players from participating in the breakaway circuit.

That said, one antitrust expert said that the PGA/LIV deal would be approved and two others said it was too close to call.

"This is entertainment. I think that would make it a less priority for the antitrust enforcers," said Seth Bloom of Bloom Strategic Counsel.

MIXED REACTION

Among the more popular players who made the move to LIV Golf are Hall of Fame golfer Phil Mickelson, former world number one Dustin Johnson, reigning PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka and 2022 British Open winner Cameron Smith.

"Awesome day today," tweeted Mickelson, whose public image took a hit in February 2022 when the author of an unauthorised biography on him released excerpts from the book in which he called the Saudis "scary" but said he was willing to look past their human rights records to gain leverage with the PGA Tour.

Some PGA Tour players expressed surprise at having not been informed of the agreement before its announcement.

"I love finding out morning news on Twitter," wrote two-times major champion Collin Morikawa.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who owns three courses that are part of LIV Golf's 14-event schedule in 2023, celebrated the deal in a Truth social post using all caps.

"Great news from LIV Golf. A big, beautiful, and glamorous deal for the wonderful world of golf. Congrats to all!!!"

Since its launch, LIV players have only competed alongside their former colleagues at the majors as those four blue-riband events on the golf calendar are not run by either the PGA Tour or DP World Tour but by independent institutions.

Many of those who accepted lucrative signing bonuses to join LIV Golf cited as their reason for making the leap a desire to play fewer events and spend more time with their families.

Advocacy groups 9/11 Families United and Democracy for the Arab World Now, which was founded by Khashoggi, were among the organizations that denounced the deal.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers on Sept. 11, 2001 were from Saudi Arabia. However, the kingdom has long denied a role in the attacks on the Twin Towers, which killed nearly 3,000 people.

"Jay Monahan co-opted the 9/11 community last year in the PGA (Tour's) unequivocal agreement that the Saudi LIV project was nothing more than sportswashing of Saudi Arabia's reputation," 9/11 Families United said in a statement.

"Now the PGA and Monahan appear to have become just more paid Saudi shills, taking billions of dollars to cleanse the Saudi reputation so that Americans and the world will forget how the Kingdom spent their billions of dollars before 9/11 to fund terrorism, spread their vitriolic hatred, and finance al Qaeda and the murder of our loved ones."

[ProudVirgin69]

Pretty funny that after all of the grandstanding and holier-than-thou talk that this is the end result.  Looks like all the players that held out from the LIV tour to keep the higher ground missed out on millions for nothing.

I don’t watch or care about golf so it’s not a big deal to me but the hypocrisy is entertaining.  The power of the almighty dollar!   

[Dave D]

This f