PGA Tour // DP World Tour //LIV announce merger...

Shocking news minutes ago that the DP World Tour / PGA Tour / LIV have merged thus ending two years of acrimony, virtual civil war in the men's professional game

“The parties have signed an agreement that combines PIF’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights (including LIV Golf) with the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour into a new, collectively owned, for-profit entity to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from a model that delivers maximum excitement and competition among the game’s best players,” the statement reads.

All three have agreed to end all litigations, and to allow LIV players to apply for re-instatement to the PGA and DP World Tours after the 2023 season.

Rory McIlroy, left, and Brooks Koepka, right, soon will be playing the same golf course regularly after the PGA Tour and European tour agreed to a merger with LIV Golf. Koepka had defected to the rival Saudi-funded LIV Golf for a nine-figure bonus. (Matt York/Associated Press/File)

“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” said PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan in a statement. “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. Going forward, fans can be confident that we will, collectively, deliver on the promise we’ve always made – to promote competition of the best in professional golf and that we are committed to securing and driving the game’s future.

“Today is a very exciting day for this special game and the people it touches around the world,” said PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. “We are proud to partner with the PGA Tour to leverage PIF’s unparalleled success and track record of unlocking value and bringing innovation and global best practices to business and sectors worldwide. We are committed to unifying, promoting and growing the game of golf around the world and offering the highest-quality product to the many millions of long-time fans globally, while cultivating new fans.”

In addition to the financial investment in the new entity for an equity stake, the PIF will become a premier corporate sponsor of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and other international tours.

My thoughts to follow..

Bryan Angus