There is the old adage " No news is good news" . I couldn't help but think of that as I went about my work day on Tuesday, with the stunning merger news you've all heard about front and center in my mind.
"I can't help but feel sorry for the Canadian Open once again "were the poignant words of Adam Hadwin at his press conference. " To have this news drop on a Tuesday at this important event, our National Championship that we all want the PGA Tour to regard as important is unfortunate. To have all of us (Canadians) here to compete with Rory, and Justin and all the top players to try and win this title should be what this week is all about, and now it may be over shadowed again. Like I said, I feel sorry for the Canadian Open"
There is so much about this news to digest, we, including the players who were not informed until after it broke on social media, I'm left only with these thoughts right now.
* I'm a loyalty guy through and through and have been critical of DJ, Sergio, Lee, Poults and all the rest for their greed and in fact haven't missed seeing them play at all. Now if they want, they can have their cake and eat it too and that doesn't sit well with me.
* Saudi Arabia was a nothing to me, until 9/11. But their PIF money was and is all over pro sports long before LIV with little or no subsequence, so I should not be surprised it has come to this merger, albeit so suddenly without warning.
* The DP World Tour, and Asian Tour have been playing many events for a pittance compared to LIV and the PGA Tour, so this money from PIF which is now a Corporate Sponsor may well be a much needed life line to their players/ tours.
* The LIV guys playing in the majors (bad guys) and the PGA / DP players (good guys) all seem to be getting along without acrimony during these events, see Brooks Koepka winning the PGA etc., so that will not be an issue when they are all legally reunited.
* The European Ryder Cup team may be stronger in 2025, the US team hardly needs any help but they get DJ, Reed etal back as well.
* Everyone who took a side on this 2 year civil war in the men's professional game will get on with it, time heals all wounds, but how this merger will go down in history will never be forgotten by us all.
Loyalty vs Royalties is a divisive debate that will go on forever, so will the game of golf, but after all of this it may not be quite the same.
Now let's hope a Canadian (s) can be in contention come Sunday afternoon at Oakdale GC, celebrating 100 years, to steal back the headlines, to where they should be.. Pat Fletcher, a landed immigrant from England was the last "Canadian" to win it in 1954, 69 years ago.
Bryan Angus
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