The divide that emerged in 2022 when several big-name golfers teed it up at LIV’s Centurion event could soon be over as the PIF and PGA Tour near a finalised agreement.
LIV’s Invitational in St Albans rocked the golfing world and saw the likes of Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, and Dustin Johnson turn their backs on the PGA Tour and sign for the Saudi-backed venture. Bryson DeChambeau would follow suit in Portland, and Brooks Koepka went down the same avenue after accepting a big-money contract offer.
Those who sign for LIV relinquished their PGA Tour status, and no breakaway league player has played a Tour event since the league was founded. Up to now, the PGA Tour has insisted any LIV player must serve a year ban from their final event before attempting to earn status.
PGA Tour and PIF near final agreement
However, groundbreaking news has emerged over the past week. President Donald Trump met with Jay Monahan and Adam Scott before the Genesis Invitational. What’s more, player director Tiger Woods revealed a merger could happen soon during a brief broadcast appearance last week.
Now, Golf Channel reporter Rex Hoggard has reaffirmed the positive news and claimed LIV players could return for the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
“I’ll go one step further. I could say the possibility of next month with The Players Championship looming. I spoke to one LIV player who has actually heard from the PGA Tour about the possibility of showing up at the flagship event,” Hoggard said.
Joel Dahmen reacts to PGA Tour-LIV Golf latest
The news has now filtered through to those players competing at this week’s Mexico Open. Most big-name players have avoided the PGA Tour stop at Vidanta Vallarta. However, for those in the field, there’s a valuable opportunity to rack up some precious FedEx Cup points.
What’s more, if LIV players do return, those players outside the FedEx Cup top 70 will likely be the ones impacted most.
Joel Dahmen, one of the PGA Tour’s fan favourites, spoke to NBC about his thoughts on the merger.
“I guess I don’t know. I just hope I keep having tee times on the PGA Tour, and I am going to show up wherever they let me show up,” Dahmen said. “I hope they all have a great lunch at the White House and they all shake hands at the end.”
Sam Ryder quizzed on LIV Golf merger at the Mexico Open
Sam Ryder, who has never won on the PGA Tour and ended the FedEx Cup Fall 125th, admitted getting the best players back together will be for the good of the game.
“Just as a fan before a player, as someone who loves the game of golf, I just hope it helps move us forward as a game as a whole, not necessarily just looking at the PGA Tour’s perspective. Getting the President involved he is very influential. But we will see,” Ryder said.
“I think the fans generally want to see the best players in the world competing against each other. Whether that involves me or not, for the game as a whole, I think it’s important to get some of the greatest – top 10 or 50 players in the world playing more golf together.”
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