PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan recently announced that the deadline for the PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger has been extended. The PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) are working together to reach an agreement to bring the PIF on board as minority co-investors.
Despite the significance of this announcement in the world of golf, it went relatively unnoticed due to the timing of Jay Monahan’s memo to PGA Tour members. The memo was released on December 31st, which coincided with an NFL Sunday, the peak of College Football bowl season, and a holiday for many. As a result, the news slipped through the cracks as the PGA Tour postponed merger talks.
In a recent interview with SI’s Bob Harig, Bryson DeChambeau discussed the potential integration of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. He also highlighted how Tiger Woods, once the most popular athlete in the world, serves as a model for LIV Golf’s path to success. DeChambeau expressed his belief that incorporating a team aspect into the sport could generate additional revenue for broadcasters, advertisers, and players, while also attracting new fans. He drew a parallel to his own fandom of the Dallas Cowboys, explaining that one can be a fan of a team without necessarily participating in the sport.
DeChambeau acknowledged the irony of using Tiger Woods’ individual success as an example for how LIV Golf fans would support a team. While Tiger Woods remains more popular than any team of golfers, DeChambeau emphasized the importance of creating interest in LIV Golf beyond the sport itself.
In the interview, DeChambeau also addressed Rory McIlroy’s recent comments and softened stance on LIV Golf. He expressed his belief that the game of golf needs to come back together, not only for players to compete against the best, but also for fans to witness these matchups and for the growth of the sport. DeChambeau lamented the initial resistance to meetings and attributed it to egos getting in the way.
Looking back at DeChambeau’s comments on LIV Golf and the PGA Tour in September 2022, he expressed his hope that people would be open-minded and give LIV Golf a chance. He believed that there was potential for something exciting to emerge from the merger.
(Source: Getty Image / Christian Petersen)
During that time, Bryson expressed his belief that eventually a resolution will be reached. It is necessary for the future of golf as a whole. LIV Golf has introduced something new and distinct, which may cause some disruption and dissatisfaction among certain individuals.
DeChambeau has shown a greater level of diplomacy in handling the LIV Golf split and the potential merger with the PGA Tour than anyone, including myself, has previously acknowledged. It is clear that he genuinely believes in the potential of LIV’s team model to expand the game of golf. However, whether or not this belief holds true is yet to be determined.
According to the Source brobible.com