PGA Tour & PIF/LIV Golf Merger

[MattNJGolfer]

This absolutely had to happen. It will kill any litigation.  It restores world ranking points to the liv guys before the points reset! It's just a better look for all instead of taking pot shots in interviews and social media 

Edited June 6, 2023 by MattNJGolfer
Clarification in world ranking points

[Fongle]

Honestly, I just hope that this means Australia still gets events from LIV, or whatever this new tour will be called. That was my favourite part of LIV, they held events in places the PGA abandoned

[mardukes]

1 minute ago, Azavil said:

This is the way things should be done, top players in the world playing against each other, make them earn the huge money price they have on the table! Love it. If players took a side in this "dispute" well, its up to them, you never know what curve ball life will throw at you, it'll be interesting, except for watching the spoiled kid named patrick reed..

You apparently know something no one else does.  I'm wondering if they move the designated tour or the DP USA portion of PGATour into the for-profit LLC.

[PeterHenric]

I have got to think that probably the elevated events will be modified? And their press release it says that they are trying to iron everything out and I do not envy them on trying to square everything up. Their calendar is already full and then you add in the LIV stuff which will certainly be a different series, but it still has schedules that presumably their other big-name guys will be playing on as well. Maybe the elevated events become the LIV events?

[daviddvm]

4 minutes ago, jayjay0808 said:

Ummm, I was shocked this morning. My initial thoughts, after all this talk about where the money was coming from by the PGA Tour, Golf Channel, and every media outlet... the PGA Tour and Monahan took the money after all. A bunch of hypocrites in my opinion, sellouts. 

That is a fair take on it !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Preeway]

While this does strike me as odd in timing, it makes complete sense. The DP was dying a slow death with a lack of sponsors and purse money to pare against the PGAT. With LIV going to a relegation approach it opens the path for those players to resume their pro careers after getting the boot. It probably means OWGR points for LIV tournaments as well. 

[mardukes]

1 minute ago, MattNJGolfer said:

This absolutely had to happen. It will kill any litigation.  It restores world ranking points. It's just a better look for all instead of taking pot shots in interviews and social media 

I just watched the CNBC interview including Monahan.  Where do you guys get this stuff?  How does it restore world ranking points?

[GolfSpy MPR]

This, so far, seems to be the most substantive take I've seen that makes some sense:

 

[Tarheelvolvo]

The best response I have seen so far was in an ESPN write-up where they quoted a PGA Tour player (unnamed) who, when reached for comment, said "No F---ing way!" 

They are also establishing a "fair an objective process for any players who desire to re-apply for the membership with the PGA Tour or DP World Tour following the completion of the 2023 season."

I'm curious what Phil will say given his tweets lately...

 

[richk9holes]

My thoughts:

Awkward. So much is on record. Chamblee went so far in defense of the PGA and with the most eyeballs on him. The backtracking, revisionist narrative and retcon will need to be expert level. Major reason Monahan will likely stay in his job. 

Monahan should step down. Mishandled is a kind word. 3 1/2 years ago this could have been the likely result had he been open to it. He instead used resources to pay lawyers (who play at CCs regularly anyway) and paid actors (who also play golf regularly at nice places) to run a gambit of litigation and propaganda.

Purported mission of growing the game. This merger leads in that direction. The resistance to it, as I see it, was using resources that could have been directed at the stated goals. 

Pushback I hear most often is now PIF and thereby the Saudi govt has financial majority interest in the sport of golf. Simple solution (not for me, but many of the loudest voices) INVEST IN GOLF. Take some of your $ from your offshore account you hide it in and repatriate it, build a golf course. Let juniors play for $5. Now you're doing something besides talking. NCAA and the alumni of every University, build a course. If you have one, build an executive on an adjoining property. If people are unhappy about the Saudi investment representing such a large amount they are encouraged to help dilute it. 

 

[MacTourney]

The PGA Tour blinked...

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

*THOUGHT THERE WAS ANOTHER THREAD* DISREGARD

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

11 minutes ago, jayjay0808 said:

Ummm, I was shocked this morning. My initial thoughts, after all this talk about where the money was coming from by the PGA Tour, Golf Channel, and every media outlet... the PGA Tour and Monahan took the money after all. A bunch of hypocrites in my opinion, sellouts. 

Money always talks doesnt it? Tale as old as time, but I 100% am on this side with you, KETTLE BLACK is pet peeve.

[Bradka13]

Wild.  Never even heard a thing about this even being remotely possible and then...BAM!

[MattNJGolfer]

Before the merger, when world ranking points reset after this season, LIV golfers wouldn't get new world ranking points,  and wouldn't qualify for Majors or other big events. That's what I meant Mardukes

[DRLEONARD58]

I had to check the calendar that it wasn't April 1..... turns out it isn't

[GolfSpy_APH]

Actually my biggest question is where is the NLU pod. 

[jayjay0808]

The players that stuck by the PGA Tour are NOT happy (Hughes, Kim, Bryan, etc.). Apparently no one knew outside maybe a couple handful of people in the PGA Tour. I wonder if this is why Rory took a step back from some of his duties on the PGA Tour.

[Wmyoungiv]

Bryson, Phil, DJ, Brooks and others are smiling right now, while I am sure their are a lot that turned down the money that are going to raise hell behind closed doors. 

 

[mardukes]

13 minutes ago, MattNJGolfer said:

Before the merger, when world ranking points reset after this season, LIV golfers wouldn't get new world ranking points,  and wouldn't qualify for Majors or other big events. That's what I meant Mardukes

The problem is that what stood between LIV and OWGR was the nature of their events -- number of holes, days, players and no cuts -- none of which has been changed by this merger.  You pulled this out of your...air.  That's what I meant.

[Preeway]

While this does strike me as odd in timing, it makes complete sense. The DP was dying a slow death with a lack of sponsors and purse money to pare against the PGAT. With LIV going to a relegation approach it opens the path for those players to resume their pro careers after getting the boot. It probably means OWGR points for LIV tournaments as well. 

[StrokerAce]

HV3 from the top rope!

 

[mgatesjr]

If you can't beat 'em, buy 'em.

[gingerbeast87]

Considering the absolute knee jerk reaction that the PGA had to LIV it's interesting to see their new stance!

[CSiders12]

I like Scott Van Pelt's tweet. Pretty much sums up a lot of feelings about the change. 
 

 

[jnz12]

I hope it doesn't get too toxic in here but at the end of the day, this is what it was all supposed to be from the start. A supplemental exhibition league that was a fun change in the norm but didn't interfere with any major PGA Tour events. Jay Monohan created this drama because he was afraid of competition.

I know its not fact but I have a feeling this merger is happening so the PGA Tour doesn't have to use their own money anymore to compete and keep players from jumping ship and it's possible the legal battle wasn't leaning in their favor. I'm just curious when this means players from LIV will start competing on tour again and if LIV events will soon earn OWGR points. 

[MattNJGolfer]

I'm not going to engage you negatively.  But you know what merger means. They will start earning world ranking points again.  

[funkyjudge]

Watching the press coverage and listening to Jay Monahan on CNBC, plus reading his press release, the following thought is “what a f$$king hypocrite!“ (and my use of dollar signs is entirely intentional)

Edited June 6, 2023 by funkyjudge

[mardukes]

Do they have they have the balls to tax the guys who jumped and, being a not for profit, distribute that money to the members?  Kind of like when Junior Soprano decided to tax Heshie.

[funkyjudge]

4 minutes ago, MattNJGolfer said:

I'm not going to engage you negatively.  But you know what merger means. They will start earning world ranking points again.  

As it should be, and should always have been.