The PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) announced in June that they would like to reach an agreement on their proposed merger by December 31. Based on Phil Mickelson’s latest promise regarding LIV Golf – in addition to a myriad of other concerns – it becomes extremely difficult to ensure that this deadline is met.
LIV Golf is hosting its $50 million team championship this weekend, and with the Saudi-backed tour’s second year ending and the merger deadline fast approaching, the The future of LIV has been the topic of discussion during players’ press conferences.
Although the uncertainties seem to far outweigh the certainties when it comes to professional golf as a whole at the moment, Mickelson is extremely confident about one thing, and that is that more players will leave the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to join LIV Golf.
“Do I think that?” Mickelson said when asked if he thought more Tour players would move to LIV. “No, I know it’s going to happen.”
“When players watch LIV, they want to be a part of it. Everyone here is happy and enjoying what we’re doing and enjoying the team aspect, enjoying each other, the camaraderie and enjoying playing golf around the world and enjoying all the benefits that come from this tour.” , continued Mickelson. “So there are a lot of players who see that and want to be a part of it. The question is, you know, how many spots are available. There are many more players who want to come than there are places. »
Phil Mickelson is very confident in the continued growth of LIV Golf for 2024. ???? pic.twitter.com/vxUtbmpgyr
– Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) October 18, 2023
This is a sweeping statement from Mickelson given that no one seems to know what LIV will or won’t look like in a year’s time. You also can’t ignore the fact that LIV Golf’s Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) app was unanimously rejected earlier this month, making it virtually impossible for the majority of LIV players to qualify for major championships in the future.
More and more questions about the PGA Tour – Saudi Fusion
Let’s say Mickelson is right and a handful of other PGA Tour players join Brooks Koepka, Cam Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and others on LIV Golf ahead of next season. This would add another giant wrinkle to one of the most wrinkle-filled situations we’ve ever seen in sports.
Interestingly enough, the only ones to blame if more PGA Tour players jump into LIV are the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF representatives attempting to successfully merge.
READ: PGA TOUR – LIV GOLF DEAL WOULD BE “FAR FROM COMPLETE” WITH PLAYER REQUIREMENTS AT THE FOREFRONT
When the master agreement for the merger was presented in June, a clause stipulated that while negotiations were ongoing, LIV could not poach players (offer millions and millions) from the PGA Tour or DP World Tour .
This clause was repealed just a month later, after all parties agreed to do so when the US Department of Justice accused them of anti-competitive behavior. In other words, gasoline has been thrown on a raging fire that no one seems to want to put out.
If other PGA Tour stars – emphasis on stars – jump into the LIV, it makes the Tour a less desirable product for advertisers, advertisers who are already fighting an unwinnable battle with bottomless pockets of the Saudi PIF.
The proposed merger was not presented in a way that the PGA Tour would absorb LIV Golf, or vice versa, it is strictly about the Tour merging with the Saudis and creating a for-profit entity that does not yet have a name, with the Tour still having the main seat at the table of professional golf.
While it’s still pretty safe to assume that this is the path everyone involved is on, it’s difficult to determine if the race has even started given the obstacles constantly put in the way.
Follow Mark Harris on @It’sMarkHarris or email him at [email protected]
