Back in May 2023, then-PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan of LIV Golf, had a clandestine meeting in Venice, Italy and hammered out a “framework agreement” that they hoped would lead to a merger between the PGA and LIV tours.
Since that day, a lot has changed, and in many cases, nothing has changed. Monahan is no longer the PGA Tour commissioner.
The new CEO is Brian Rolapp, who comes to the Tour from the NFL after serving as its chief Media and Business officer for the past 20 years.
Rolapp’s biggest move has been the creation of the Future Competition Committee headed by Tiger Woods. The committee will be composed of six players and three businessmen. John Henry, majority owner of the Boston Red Sox and part of the Strategic Sports Group that invested $1.5 billion in the PGA Tour, and Theo Epstein, former Red Sox and Chicago Cubs executive, will be on the committee.
So, there is sure to be changes coming to the Tour. $1.5 billion buys you a seat at the table and a very loud voice. But it doesn’t look like any of those changes will be a merger with LIV.
Whew!
Discussions between the Tour and LIV have gone nowhere. They appear to have broken off completely.
Does that bother you? It doesn’t bother me!
The main talking point is to get the best players in the world competing against each other in more than just a few major championships. However, the two sides do not agree on what the highest level of competitive golf should look like.
There are many differences between the two tours’ formats.
The PGA Tour is unwavering in the 72-hole stroke play format. LIV plays 54-hole events with shotgun starts. The PGA Tour feels strongly that players and fans want 72-hole events .
Team Golf, another part of LIV events, also seems to be a major sticking point stifling any potential merger.
Rory McIlroy is on the PGA Tour’s Transaction Subcommittee that communicates directly with PIF (the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, the managing and financial arm of LIV).
Rory said the PGA Tour “does not need a deal” with PIF. The Strategic Sports Group’s $1.5 billion investment in the Tour has enabled an increase in purses in the Signature Events thus keeping its star players from jumping to LIV.
The PGA Tour now feels it is in a position of strength, TV ratings are up and sponsors are committing to long extensions.
The major differences in the two tours are many:
Number of Events
PGA Tour – 38
LIV – 14
I enjoy watching golf on TV;, 14 weeks is not enough.
Number of Rounds
PGA Tour – 72 holes, 156 players, cut to low 70 & ties after 36 holes
LIV – 54 holes, no cut.
I like 72 holes and believe in the meritocracy of a cut after 36.
Starting procedure
PGA Tour – 10-minute intervals between groups with leaders teeing off last
LIV – shotgun starts
Team Golf
PGA Tour – all individual stroke play events
LIV – 14 teams of four players each
The team golf concept seems to be a major sticking point for LIV.
Any discussions of a merger include team golf. I’m not in favor of team golf every week and, apparently, the PGA Tour isn’t either. The Ryder and President’s Cup every other year is great. Any more than that would water down those events.
Shotgun Starts vs tee
times on the Tour.
Shotgun starts are great for corporate outings and events at your club to get everyone finished at the same time to enjoy cocktails and dinner, but not appropriate for the highest level of competitive golf.
Also…
+ LIV events are played all over the world, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and England. There are five scheduled in the United States. The broadcast times for the other nine events start when most of this country’s golf fans are sound asleep.
+ Getting on and staying on the PGA Tour is a meritocracy. Players qualify by way of outstanding season long performance on the Korn Ferry and DP World Tour. The pathway to get on the LIV Tour is totally different. The top players like Rahm, DeChambeau, Mickelson, Garcia, Poulter, Stenson, Bubba Watson were offered hundreds of millions of dollars to join LIV. They made a decision based on what they felt was best for them and their families.
Dustin Johnson said “for me it was about playing less and making more money, pretty simple.”
LIV players also went from being independent contractors on the PGA Tour, able to pick and choose their playing schedule, to employees of PIF, having to play every week no matter what‘s going on with their family.
I don’t foresee a merger happening in the foreseeable future. LIV is totally committed to team golf and, so far, has insisted it be part of any joint events if there was a merger.
For me, comparing the PGA Tour to LIV is similar to comparing Major League Baseball to “Banana Ball.”
Yes it’s golf, but the shotgun starts, music blaring, fans throwing beer cans on the greens and tees, three rounds, team golf and a mere 14 events, to me, does not exemplify competitive golf at the highest level.
LIV seems more like a Monday outing at your local club.
I really don’t care if there’s ever a merger. I’d be very disappointed if the PGA Tour compromised its competitive model for the sake of “having all the best players in the world competing more often.”
How do you feel?
Let me know at bgreen49@AOL.com
Bob Green continues to enjoy his retirement after 41 years as head golf professional at Tedesco Country Club.
