Iain Carter has revealed what he has heard from a contact regarding the change the owners of LIV Golf would like to make to the PGA Tour, as the two sides continue discussions over the game’s future.
It has been a year since the golfing world was left stunned as PIF and the PGA Tour announced the framework agreement which was seemingly a huge step towards the end of the sport’s civil war.
Obviously, discussions have continued behind the scenes, but there has been little announced publicly, and thus, it seems that there is still a massive question mark over what the future of the game actually looks like, particularly with the PGA Tour holding its ground as LIV Golf becomes a more established brand.
It has been frustrating to not know what is going on around the negotiating table, but perhaps one of the sticking points has come to light.
What PIF are pushing for in talks with PGA Tour
Of course, one of the main ways LIV stands out is the team format. It has not yet won everyone over, with even Tyrrell Hatton admitting that Legion XIII’s team win at JCB was little consolation for missing out on the individual title to teammate Jon Rahm. But it seems that PIF see the team game playing a key role in golf’s future.
Speaking on The Chipping Forecast, Carter shared what he had learned about what is being discussed by the heads of the respective families.
“I heard an interesting thing at The Open last week from someone relatively in the know, and it seems like with the negotiations that are going on, the key thing from the Saudi point of view is to get team golf incorporated into the PGA Tour,” he said.
“That is the big vision as far as Yasir Al-Rumayyan is concerned, making it all work and whether or not this simulator thing that McIlroy and Woods are doing, and the team, Boston Common and all those teams, finding some kind of synergy between those teams, LIV teams and coming up with a team format that comes into the calendar that then creates a pathway that ultimately would allow the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau to come back and play the biggest PGA Tour events; that’s what they’re trying to achieve, but it’s obviously hugely complex and very hard to square a lot of circles.”
What both sides must keep in mind as discussions continue
Regardless of what you think of LIV Golf, there is absolutely no question that the PGA Tour could learn from the breakaway tour in a number of ways, as it does seem that they had almost become complacent.
LIV is appealing to a younger audience, and there is no question that they had a much better field than the 3M Open on the PGA Tour.
There is definitely potential in the team format, particularly when you consider how much fans love the likes of the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup. And, that is also reflected in the formation of TGL which is set to start next year.
Ultimately, most fans simply want to see the likes of Rahm and DeChambeau battling it out with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler most weeks. And if the decision-makers keep that in mind, then perhaps it should come as no surprise if the sport has a very bright future ahead.
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