Saudi victory as PGA ‘caves in’
Golf left reeling by ‘merger’ with breakaway LIV circuit Team event is likely to run separately from the tours
The PGA Tour has caved in to the threat of LIV Golf – and carried the DP World Tour along with it – by agreeing a shock “merger” with the breakaway circuit.
Have the Saudis effectively bought professional male golf? Well, as one high-profile player told Telegraph Sport yesterday: “All it took were 15 LIV events until they buckled.” Yesterday will be recorded as one of the most important dates in the history of the professional sport.
Another indication of the brewing dissent was the notice identifying a “Player Meeting” at the PGA Tour event in Canada last night. Someone had written “LIV” over the top of it. “LIV Player Meeting”. Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner, later described the meeting as “heated” and “tense.”
There will be billions of dollars, probably in the tens, pumped into golf but the haste in announcing this alliance from the depths of bitterness was utterly extraordinary and the sport reeled in amazement. The new, for-profit entity looks to overhaul male golf at the highest level to unrecognisable degrees.
Nothing has been decided but it is likely to involve a team event that will run separately to the schedules of the PGA Tour and DP World Tours, which will be entirely funded by Public Investment Fund, the Saudi sovereign fund that bankrolls LIV as well as Newcastle United. Yassir Alrumayyan happens to be the chairman of both. From St James’ Park to St Andrews links, he has emerged as the top player.
Meanwhile, Greg Norman, the LIV chief executive, looks toast.
His vitriol was LIV’S bread and butter in getting airplay, but that is not needed anymore. Even the R&A has welcomed the partnership, signalling that all the majors will, as will the world rankings. “We are pleased that an agreement has been reached which will help men’s professional golf move forward in a collaborative, constructive and innovative fashion,” it said. However, the same crusaders who yelled of “sportswashing” now talk of this being “a great day for golf ”. But it is a great day for money and power. Nothing more. Credit to Keith Pelley, the chief executive of the DP World Tour who first brought PIF into golf with the Saudi International in 2018. He always maintained that if they would only learn to exist in the ecosystem then the Saudis might be welcomed to have a slice of this pie. He brought Monahan to the table with Al-rumayyan, with Norman nowhere in sight. It is a turbochanged revolution of which only but a handful were aware.
Was Rory Mcilroy in the loop? Monahan suggested last night he was not. More than anyone, Mcilroy spoke up against LIV and turned down $400 million. How will others feel who stayed loyal to the tours? The plan is to let the rebels rejoin after the season. Monahan, who will be chief executive in this new entity, essentially called for calm. Alrumayyan is the chairman. The DP World Tour still waits for its title.
“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” Monahan said. “This transformational partnership recognises 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 organisation that will benefit golf ’s players, commercial and charitable partners and fans.”
The increasingly acrimonious and complex legal battles in the United States courts immediately stop and the LIV players will have a route back to the traditional tours – but only after this season.
Will the likes of Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter be available for the Ryder Cup in September? What now for Phil Mickelson, the most vocal of the rebels, and his place in the sport?
These are just two of the numerous questions that need answering after this bombshell revelation.
May 2021 Telegraph golf correspondent James Corrigan (1) reveals that some of the world’s top golfers have been offered contracts worth up to $100 million (£72 million) each to play in a Saudi-backed rebel world tour.
October 2021 Greg Norman appointed CEO for LIV Golf Investments.
February 2022
Phil Mickelson refers to the Saudis as “scary mother------s” but says LIV offers golfers a “once-in-alifetime opportunity”
June 2022
The first LIV tournament is held at Centurion in Hertfordshire, won by Charl Schwartzel (3). The field also includes Dustin Johnson, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen. They are soon joined by major champions Patrick Reed, Bryson Dechambeau and Brooks Koepka.
July 2022
Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson is announced as LIV’S latest signing (4) and is sacked as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. Donald Trump (2) warns PGA Tour players they will regret not signing up to LIV.
August 2022
Eleven LIV golfers file an anti-trust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.
June 2023
LIV Golf and the PGA Tour announce they and the DP World Tour are to merge into a new entity.