A PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger is predicted to be in the pipeline after months of negotiations between tour officials and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship saw Rory McIlroy, Jay Monahan and PIF chief PIF chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan reunite on Scotland’s east coast.
Prominent PIF and PGA Tour names congregating on the same course sparked much rumour among fans and the press.
Another twist involves Greg Norman, with PIF officials eager to replace the Aussie as LIV’s CEO.
Fans believe Norman stepping away could accelerate a deal, and it’s a view that YouTube star Peter Finch shares.
Peter Finch predicts LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger after Greg Norman twist
- READ MORE: What Tiger Woods said about Greg Norman’s position in 2022 as LIV Golf now search for new CEO
Speaking on the latest edition of the Rough Cut Podcast, Finch believes Norman’s exit is the final ‘twist’ that needs to happen before any merge deal can be concluded.
“Yeah, I think so [unification is close],” Finch said. “There are three main points. You have Greg Norman, who has annoyed a lot of people. Realistically, he can’t continue in a role where he has a direct say in what is happening week-to-week, tour-wise.
“There are too many egos that have been bruised, and too many bridges have been burnt in this situation. You could argue it’s the same thing with Jay Monahan – I personally don’t believe that. I think he is going to stay in the same position. The third sticking point is regular tory from the US government allowing this merger.”
Finch continued: “But we have seen on countless occasions when there is this much money involved, the deal gets done. So, for me, this was a personal hurdle for a lot of people, and if a new CEO comes in who is a unifier rather than a divider, I don’t really see how there is anything that is going to stop this.
“What that format looks like, if it’s the current team format that LIV has, if it’s some kind of split year where you have normal tour events over 72 holes and then have some kind of team aspect, I don’t know. But for me, this is the final little twist in the saga.”
LIV Golf merger: Rory McIlroy hopeful of 2025 resolution
Over the past year, several differing time frames have emerged when it comes to negotiations finally concluding.
Monahan has admitted that 2026 or 2027 is a realistic end date, with the PGA Tour and LIV both committing to their 2025 schedules.
McIlroy, however, wants the current divide to end by the end of 2024.
“I think we’ll know a lot more by year’s end. We’re in October, so hopefully [there’s] three months to get something done,” the Northern Irishman said at the Alfred Dunhill.
Those from all over the golfing world will hope that Norman’s imminent exit is a sign that movement could finally be afoot and that the world’s best players will soon be competing against each other more regularly.
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