One of the most intriguing aspects of the talks between the PGA Tour and the PIF concerns what the golfing landscape is going to look like in the future with the various tours all looking for their moments in the spotlight.
It does appear that a deal which involves the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is getting closer. And interestingly, Tiger Woods said that the best players will be reunited when asked about the situation on Sunday at the Genesis Invitational.
Clearly, the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and LIV Golf will not be able to continue as they are while also offering the top players the chance to face off more often.
It remains to be seen if there is a full merger between the tours or there are a series of compromises which perhaps allows Jon Rahm to play on the PGA Tour again and Scottie Scheffler to potentially feature in LIV events, for example.
The PGA Tour urged to get back involved with one event once a deal with LIV Golf is agreed
Of course, if that is the case, the event most will surely want to sign up for is LIV Golf Adelaide, the tournament which has become the flagship week for the league. This year’s event in Australia was exactly what LIV needed after the damp squib of a season-opener in Riyadh.
And it seems that the scenes at The Grange has inspired Dan Rapaport. Speaking on Dan on Golf, Rapaport insisted that the PGA Tour must look to get back involved with the Australian Open sooner rather than later.
“This is their major. This is their biggest event. It draws the biggest crowds. But also, I am going to rant here for a second, Australia is awesome. Especially in golf. There are so many incredible golf courses in that country. It has got a proud golf history. Some of the best players who have ever played are Australian,” he said.
“The Australian Open used to be an event where all the top of the guys in the world has circled and the PGA Tour has totally abandoned it. There is no excuses for it. When all of this comes together, and we are going to get to that, it seems to be closer than ever, we have to have an Australian Open which is a signature event. It is just such a no brainer.”
What Jack Nicklaus previously said about the Australian Open
Certainly, something LIV has done well is remind people that there is an appetite for more top-level golf outside of the United States. While some of their events remain extremely disappointing, there are a number of stops where the passion of the fans shines through.
And Australia is at the top of the list.
As reported by Australian Golf Digest, Jack Nicklaus once said that players considered the Australian Open to be the fifth major.
Nicklaus won the event six times during his career, while Gary Player won it on seven occasions. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth has won twice and Rory McIlroy triumphed in 2013.
The event continues to be played with the DP World Tour co-sanctioning the tournament. But clearly, some feel that there is so much more potential which needs to be tapped into in the future.
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