PGA and LIV Golf news LIVE: Golf’s civil war ends after stunning merger announcement
Golf’s ongoing civil war appears to be coming to a surprising end after LIV Golf, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour announced that they have merged.
The shock announcement comes after a year of unprecedented disruption in the men’s professional game following the launch of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit.
“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said. “This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA Tour’s history, legacy and pro-competitive model and combines with it the DP World Tour and LIV - including the team golf concept - to create an organization that will benefit golf’s players, commercial and charitable partners and fans.”
The announcement will lead to a “mutually-agreed” end to all pending lawsuits between the various organisations that have proved so decisive in the sport.
Follow all the latest updates about the shock merger below:
LIV Golf and PGA Tour announce shock merger - updates
Golf’s civil war comes to a stunning end as LIV Golf, PGA Tour and DP World Tour announce shock merger
After 18 months of bitter recriminations and lawsuits, golf is back together under one umbrella
‘How many people knew?’ Golfers react to shock merger between PGA Tour and LIV Golf
LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger explained: Everything we know so far
Ex-president Donald Trump gives his reaction to the agreement
Amnesty International hit out at LIV-PGA merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 18:55 , Karl Matchett
Amnesty says this is further evidence of Saudi efforts to draw attention away from the country’s human rights record.
“While this may have taken some golf fans and commentators by surprise, it’s really just more evidence of the onward march of Saudi sportswashing,” Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK’s head of priority campaigns and individuals at risk said.
“It’s been clear for some time that Saudi Arabia was prepared to use vast amounts of money to muscle its way into top-tier golf – just part of a wider effort to become a major sporting power and to try to distract attention from the country’s atrocious human rights record.
“Away from the glamour of the golf courses and the TV cameras there’s been mounting repression in Saudi Arabia, with government critics and human rights activists arrested, a spate of unfair trials, and with the death penalty widely used, including as a tool of political repression.
“The world of golf may be about to put one of its most high-profile commercial battles behind it, but it’s vital that this latest surge in Saudi sportswashing isn’t allowed to obscure the increasingly dire human rights situation in Saudi Arabia.”
LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger explained: Everything we know so far
Tuesday 6 June 2023 18:35 , Luke Baker
Tuesday’s surprise news that the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the LIV Golf tour have called an end to legal hostilities and announced a merger has quickly sent shock through the golfing world and beyond.
Having been bitter rivals since the Saudi-backed breakaway tour kicked into life, with huge fees on offer and luring away some of the PGA Tour’s biggest stars, few expected such a dramatic turn of events at this point.
Golf has been facing an earthquake of changed outlooks over the past two years or so and now it appears set for even more - here’s everything we know so far.
LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger explained: Everything we know so far
‘How many people knew?’ Golfers react to shock merger between PGA Tour and LIV Golf
Tuesday 6 June 2023 18:15 , Luke Baker
Professional golfers have reacted with surprise at the sudden announcement of a merger between the PGA Tour, Europe’s DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s controversial LIV Golf.
The news, announced in a statement on Tuesday, ends the legal wrangling between the parties, and the initial reaction among golfers suggests they were not informed and had no say in the outcome.
“I love finding out morning news on Twitter,” two-time major winner Collin Morikawa tweeted.
Fellow American PGA Tour player Michael Kim wrote: “Very curious how many people knew this deal was happening. About 5-7 people? Player run organization right?”
The reliably droll Joel Dahmen tweeted a dig at LIV Golf’s team format: “I’ve grown up being a fan of the 4 Aces. Maybe one day I get to play for them on the PGA Tour!”
See more reactions from players:
‘How many people knew?’ Golfers react to shock merger between PGA Tour and LIV Golf
Bitter rivals LIV Golf and PGA Tour announce shock merger to end golf’s civil war
Tuesday 6 June 2023 17:55 , Luke Baker
Golf’s ongoing civil war appears to be coming to a surprising end after Saudi-backed breakaway league LIV Golf, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour announced that they have merged.
The three biggest tours in world golf made the announcement out of the blue after 18 months of bitter conflict that has seen players who defected from the ‘establishment’ PGA Tour to the controversial LIV tour, such as Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson, branded as traitors.
That has caused feuds with loyalist stars such as Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm – often resulting in a war of words in the press – but the tours appear to have reached a solution.
A statement put out by the PGA Tour confirmed the merger, which puts an immediate end to all ongoing lawsuits where players and tours have been suing and counter-suing each other.
Bitter rivals LIV Golf and PGA Tour announce shock merger to end golf’s civil war
Mackenzie Hughes hits out at merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 17:35 , Luke Baker
Canadian golfer Mackenzie Hughes has vented his frustration at the situation on Twitter and has perhaps summed up the annoyance that many of the PGA Tour loyalists will be feeling.
He wrote: “Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we said we’d never do that with.”
Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we said we’d never do that with.
— Mackenzie Hughes (@MacHughesGolf) June 6, 2023
Big questions about LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 17:20 , Luke Baker
Who will actually run golf?!
The PGA Tour are to hold a majority share on the new board, but it will be PIF to exclusively fund it - and the new company will be a for-profit one.
So it remains to be seen, and as much as there has been talk about improving the sport for everyone, when it comes to business, inevitably money talks.
Big questions about LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 17:10 , Luke Baker
What happens with the Ryder Cup?
Another question yet to be answered although if players can reapply for tours, it’s likely they’ll also be reconsidered for selection if they weren’t already.
Big questions about LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 17:00 , Luke Baker
Can banned players rejoin tours?
In short, the answer appears to be “yes” - but it’s not yet confirmed how, or what they’ll need to do.
The joint statement from the three tours said they would “work cooperatively [...] to establish a fair and objective process for any players who desire to re-apply for membership with the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour following the completion of the 2023 season”, so while they could do so in time, it won’t be immediate. Players seem set to see out the current year exactly where they are.
Big questions about LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 16:50 , Luke Baker
Which formats will be played?
This is an unknown, but the “team golf concept” was referenced in the statement, so perhaps certain events will hold this as a primary focus, or else if the LIV and PGA Tours remain separate entities, they will stay as they are with teams a feature of the Saudi-started circuit.
How will PGA Tour loyalists react?
Tuesday 6 June 2023 16:45 , Luke Baker
Golf journalist Alan Shipnuck hits the nail on the head here. Those players who turned down the LIV millions to stay loyal to the PGA Tour will feel rightly betrayed as they see those who left get the money and be welcomed back on tour anyway.
Their reaction will be fascinating and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan will have a lot of new enemies.
How do you think Rickie Fowler feels right now? He turned down a $75 million LIV offer. Top players on LIV are ecstatic: they got huge upfront $ and their franchise values just skyrocketed. Tour players can still cash in as LIV will be recruiting again but the gold rush is over.
— Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) June 6, 2023
Big questions about LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 16:40 , Luke Baker
What will the prize money be?
Yet to be announced - but it seems unlikely to be anything smaller than was already on offer across the PGA and LIV Tours.
Again, it likely will depend on the structure and whether the tours are entirely separate. The release from LIV’s side noted the Saudi Arabian state’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) are to invest “billions” in the new for-profit company which will be the result of the merger. There is no name for the new company as yet.
Big questions about LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 16:30 , Luke Baker
When does the merger start and what happens to the current tours?
It appears that the new combined company could be operational for the start of next year, though no definitive date has been set yet.
There’s also no absolute clarity over whether there will be partial integration of tours or all of them operating individually under the same holding company. Updates will follow when this becomes clearer, but the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV will all retain control of their own rules and “inside the ropes responsibilities”, suggesting three tours remain distinct and intact.
LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger explained: Everything we know so far
Tuesday 6 June 2023 16:19 , Luke Baker
Tuesday’s surprise news that the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the LIV Golf tour have called an end to legal hostilities and announced a merger has quickly sent shock through the golfing world and beyond.
Having been bitter rivals since the Saudi-backed breakaway tour kicked into life, with huge fees on offer and luring away some of the PGA Tour’s biggest stars, few expected such a dramatic turn of events at this point.
Golf has been facing an earthquake of changed outlooks over the past two years or so and now it appears set for even more - here’s everything we know so far.
LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger explained: Everything we know so far
Donald Trump gives his thoughts on merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 16:10 , Luke Baker
Former president of the USA Donald Trump has had his say on the merger between the PGA and LIV. Trump has been a big supporter of LIV Golf since its inception and a number of its events are hosted on courses owned by him.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump made sure to post a message in all capital letters to really convey his sense of excitement at the deal.
He wrote: “GREAT NEWS FROM LIV GOLF. A BIG, BEAUTIFUL, AND GLAMOROUS DEAL FOR THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOLF. CONGRATS TO ALL!!!
‘How many people knew?’ Golfers react to shock merger between PGA Tour and LIV Golf
Tuesday 6 June 2023 15:55 , Luke Baker
Professional golfers have reacted with surprise at the sudden announcement of a merger between the PGA Tour, Europe’s DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s controversial LIV Golf.
The news, announced in a statement on Tuesday, ends the legal wrangling between the parties, and the initial reaction among golfers suggests they were not informed and had no say in the outcome.
“I love finding out morning news on Twitter,” two-time major winner Collin Morikawa tweeted.
Fellow American PGA Tour player Michael Kim wrote: “Very curious how many people knew this deal was happening. About 5-7 people? Player run organization right?”
The reliably droll Joel Dahmen tweeted a dig at LIV Golf’s team format: “I’ve grown up being a fan of the 4 Aces. Maybe one day I get to play for them on the PGA Tour!”
See more reactions from players:
‘How many people knew?’ Golfers react to shock merger between PGA Tour and LIV Golf
Phil Mickelson reacts to shock merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 15:54 , Luke Baker
Phil Mickelson was arguably the OG defector from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf and has spent most of the past 18 months putting his foot in his mouth with comments surrounding the league’s Saudi backing.
Unsurprisingly, the six-time major champions has had his say about today’s news on Twitter, simply stating that it’s “an awesome day”
Awesome day today 😊 https://t.co/qUwVJiydym
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) June 6, 2023
Bitter rivals LIV Golf and PGA Tour announce shock merger to end golf’s civil war
Tuesday 6 June 2023 15:52 , Luke Baker
Golf’s ongoing civil war appears to be coming to a surprising end after Saudi-backed breakaway league LIV Golf, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour announced that they have merged.
The three biggest tours in world golf made the announcement out of the blue after 18 months of bitter conflict that has seen players who defected from the ‘establishment’ PGA Tour to the controversial LIV tour, such as Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson, branded as traitors.
That has caused feuds with loyalist stars such as Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm – often resulting in a war of words in the press – but the tours appear to have reached a solution.
A statement put out by the PGA Tour confirmed the merger, which puts an immediate end to all ongoing lawsuits where players and tours have been suing and counter-suing each other.
Bitter rivals LIV Golf and PGA Tour announce shock merger to end golf’s civil war
LIV Golf and PGA Tour announce shock merger
Tuesday 6 June 2023 15:50 , Luke Baker
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the shock merger between LIV Golf, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour
