How can you say that golf is boring? Today, when I woke up, I could have never anticipated the stunning news of a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. To be honest, I had never imagined this day would arrive, and it seems the entire golfing world shares my sentiment. Around 11am, a non-golf news source broke the news, throwing the golf Twitterverse into absolute chaos. Both sides have been relatively tight-lipped, with the PGA Tour releasing a simple two-page explanation, and Commissioner Jay Monahan (well, at least for now) scheduled a meeting with the players of the PGA Tour to discuss the merger’s implications for the future. Given the freshness of the news, I’m confident that as the week progresses, we will receive a-lot more additional details about the merger. But for now, let’s dive into my initial assessment of the winners and losers emerging from today’s bombshell. Enjoy!
Winners
Golf Fans
As golf fanatic, my initial reaction to this development was shock that quickly turned into excitement, knowing that we can once again witness the strongest possible fields in every tournament. The formation of the LIV Golf Tour had a significant drawback, as it resulted in a departure of a considerable amount of top talent in their prime from the PGA Tour, ultimately leading to weaker fields. Over the past two seasons, we have only witnessed PGA stars and LIV players competing in the four Major Tournaments, which, unsurprisingly, delivered the most intense competition and Sunday drama. It only makes sense to have the best of the best battling it out each week, so myself and countless other golf fans are thrilled to see the return of such rivalries. Personally, I am eagerly anticipating the Canadian Open this week and can’t wait to witness buzz surrounding it in person following the news of this merger.
LIV Golf
The biggest beneficiaries of the merger news are undoubtedly LIV Golf as a whole. When the Saudi-backed golf league was initially established, players faced harsh criticism for joining, primarily due to the perception of accepting substantial amounts of “dirty” money. Many, myself included, doubted that the league would ever reach the same level as the PGA Tour. LIV Golf encountered difficulties in securing sponsorships for their tour, but with the merger, that issue becomes a thing of the past. Thanks to the PGA Tour’s abundance of sponsorships, LIV Golf will now reap the benefits. The players involved in LIV Golf will have the best of both worlds: they received guaranteed financial backing, and now they can also compete in PGA Tour events, something they were unable to do for the past two seasons. Undoubtedly, LIV Golf will seize this victory and make the most of it, as numerous LIV players have already taken to Twitter to express their happiness.
LOSERS
Jay Monahan
Undoubtedly, the biggest loser of the merger is the current PGA Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan. His actions, or rather the lack thereof, have demonstrated an astounding lack of loyalty and a spinelessness that is hard to match. While the players have been fighting tirelessly on the front lines, facing the media for the past two years, Monahan remained hidden away in his office, showing no support. He went so far as to strongly encourage and even threaten the top PGA players, warning them that joining LIV Golf and pursuing the money offered would tarnish not only their own legacies but also that of the PGA Tour. Yet, hypocritically, he himself engaged in the very actions he talked down to just months prior. It was truly sickening, and one can’t help but empathize with the players who publicly opposed LIV Golf. However, the disappointment doesn’t end there. Predictably, Monahan lacked the courage to inform the current PGA Tour players about the merger before it became public knowledge. They, like the rest of us, discovered the news by reading it on Twitter. Many players have already voiced their discontent publicly regarding this matter. Rumors suggest that numerous top PGA Tour players are now calling for Monahan’s resignation as commissioner, and I wholeheartedly agree. He simply does not possess the qualities required to be a part of the game, as he lacks character, loyalty, and intelligence. He should be truly ashamed of his reprehensible actions.
Current PGA Tour Players
The current PGA Tour players must be experiencing a profound sense of sympathy and regret. Many of them made the difficult decision to decline lucrative offers in the hundreds of millions of dollars and openly expressed their disapproval of the LIV Golf League over the past two seasons. Now, learning that they too could have accepted the money without facing any consequences, it’s undoubtedly a disheartening moment for them. These players fought for their Tour and stood up for the authorities, only to be let down by the very same individuals. It’s unimaginable what thoughts must be racing through their minds right now, and they will surely require some time to process the whole situation. Unfortunately, the media is unlikely to give the players that time, eagerly seeking their reactions to the news at the earliest opportunity. I look forward to hearing from the current PGA players and their perspectives on the merger. Given that this news has just surfaced today, it’s still in its early stages, and I can only envision it becoming a prominent topic of discussion for an extended period of time.