Rex Hoggard has theory why reports of PGA and LIV Golf merger being ‘on the brink’ emerged

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There appeared to be light emerging at the end of the tunnel when it comes to golf’s civil war, with reports emerging at the weekend claiming that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf were on the verge of merging.

Of course, many golf fans are hopeful that discussions are in the home straight, with the framework agreement announced well over a year ago now. And it seems that there are now very few figures who do not want a deal to take place.

So it would have been encouraging to many, with reports suggesting that LIV Golf events were set to be played under the PGA Tour banner. PIF meanwhile, would purchase an 11 percent stake in the PGA Tour for £1 billion.

However, it does appear that the suggestion that an agreement was imminent was premature. Rory McIlroy suggested on Wednesday that he had little knowledge of any deal. So perhaps the golfing world will have to wait a little longer for the agreement which brings the game back together.

Potential reason for merger reports between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf

Speaking on Golf Channel about the reports, Rex Hoggard suggested a reason why one party may have wanted this kind of story to leak into the media.

“First, you’re going to look at the writer who broke that story. We both know the writer who broke that story and have respect for him. I think the other half of it is how did the writer know this information and who gains from this information being out. So my initial thought was someone is floating a trial balloon, someone wants to get this information out there and see what the reaction is from the public,” he said.

“You and I both know how closed the circle is when it comes to these negotiations. So every time I see something in a headline or in a story, I’m always a little dubious because there’s only a handful of people that know what’s going on and I doubt any of them would be willing to talk to reporters right now about it,” he went on to add.

The LIV Golf timeline

It has arguably felt like the longest three years golf has seen. There have often been rumblings of a potential breakaway tour, so it is understandable that plenty were probably initially dismissive when it was suggested that the PGA Tour may soon get a new rival.

How wrong they would have been. Here is a timeline consisting of some of the major events concerning LIV.

• October 2021: LIV Golf Investments announced Greg Norman as its CEO. Norman tried to start a breakaway tour in 1994, with Arnold Palmer one of those who refused to go along with the idea.
• May 2022: After announcing a number of players who were signing up, LIV Golf confirmed the signing of Phil Mickelson. Mickelson had been told not to play at The Masters by several Augusta National members that year amid speculation over his future.
• June 2022: LIV Golf hold their first ever event at Centurion Club in England. Charl Schwartzel secured victory.
• August 2022: While LIV had already signed some big names, landing Open champion Cam Smith shortly after his triumph at St Andrews was perhaps their biggest statement yet.
• June 2023: The PGA Tour and PIF stun the entire golfing world – including most of the world’s best players – by announcing a framework agreement which was set to mark the start of peace talks.
• December 2023: LIV announce their biggest signing yet, with Jon Rahm confirming that he is joining. He would also captain a new team, Legion XIII
• April 2024: Shocking reports claimed Rory McIlroy was close to joining LIV in an $850 million deal. McIlroy would quickly quash the rumours and he remains on the PGA Tour.
• August 2024: Reports suggest Rahm would happily give all of the money back to leave LIV and return to the PGA Tour. Rahm swiftly denied the suggestion.
• November 2024: It is suggested that the PGA Tour and PIF are on the verge of a merger.