There was a stage earlier in the season when it appeared to be a matter of time before the PGA Tour and LIV Golf reached an agreement which would mark the start of the game coming back together in the future.
Of course, the game has been divided since a raft of names left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf in 2022. While the PGA Tour started the civil war in the strongest position, the financial might of the Public Investment Fund was never to be taken lightly.
The framework agreement signed in June 2023 left the golfing world stunned, and appeared to be a sign that the two tours were working on a resolution. And that resolution seemed destined to come earlier this year, with talks between the two sides being held at the White House of all places.
Tiger Woods confirmed a merger was close during the Genesis Invitational. But shortly after, the speculation seemed to come to a halt. Fewer and fewer questions were being asked about any deal in press conferences.
Talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf no longer taking place
And according to Rex Hoggard, speaking on Golf Channel, it seems that there is no expectation that anything in the golfing landscape is going to change anytime soon.
“I think by all accounts, this is the new reality. I don’t think that the conversations are even ongoing at this point. I was told actually a few weeks ago during Hilton Head that the conversations had actually stopped between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund, that they were no longer negotiating and trying to reunite the game,” he said.
“So I think what we have right now is going to be the reality going forward – both tours on parallel tracks going forward. We’re only going to see the top players four times a year at the major championships, and that’s something that both sides are going to continue to wrestle in, with varying degrees of success. Certainly, the PGA Tour has enjoyed its level of success this year when it comes to the players who have won and the commercial product that’s on the field. The other half of it is LIV Golf, and we see where they end up.”
Bleak picture for LIV Golf emerges after Mexico City event
It definitely appears that the PGA Tour is enjoying a better spell than LIV Golf.
Fans expressed concern for LIV Golf after their underwhelming ratings in Mexico City. They had an impressive leaderboard with the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith, Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann going for the title on a golf course which has hosted WGC events in the past.
And yet, it was the Zurich Classic of New Orleans which attracted significantly more interest. Apart from Rory McIlroy, it was not the strongest field at TPC Louisiana by any means.
LIV seems to be passing up a number of chances to make a real statement. If they did not have the PIF behind them, you would certainly worry about how long they could continue on their current path.
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