Plenty of golf fans probably would not have believed it back at the Genesis Invitational had they been told just how quiet speculation surrounding a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf would be as the major championship season in 2025 came to an end.
At one stage, it appeared to be a matter of time before the PGA Tour and the owners of LIV Golf agreed a deal which would open the door for the game to come back together. Tiger Woods confirmed that a merger was close during the Genesis Invitational.
However, those discussions seemed to come to nothing. Talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are reportedly not happening right now.
The good news for the PGA Tour is that they appear to be in a strong position; where they do not necessarily need a deal to kick on.
Trevor Immelman thinks the PGA Tour has been vindicated for controversial changes
Of course, the PGA Tour is not without a number of flaws. It is perhaps one of the issues which comes with trying to keep the best part of 200 world-class golfers, fans, sponsors and broadcasters happy.
One of the decisions which attracted criticism was the move to reduce the number of players who automatically keep their cards each year, with that number dropping from 125 to 100 after this year.
Field sizes are getting smaller at virtually every event. Lucas Glover criticised the PGA Tour for the changes, noting that it appeared to simply be an attempt to keep the top players happy.
But speaking about the season on the Fried Egg Golf Podcast, Trevor Immelman suggested that the PGA Tour have been vindicated for creating a more ruthless structure.
“We’ve got some good golf with the playoffs coming. I think it’s going to be very interesting now, it’s quite cutthroat really when you think about it. You’ve got to be top 100, you’ve got to be top 70 to get in the playoffs, and then you’ve got to be top 50 which gives these guys the signature events next year. It’s a pretty tough gig,” he said.
“The tour took a lot of heat when they made these changes, and it’s really played out that they were quite correct with the advent of the signature events and creating these cut offs. All the other tournaments have had stronger fields. And you’re right, John Deere had the best field it’s had in a long time. Detroit had a great field. And then you look at the Scottish Open where you had 19 of the top 25 in the world playing the Scottish Open. It’s pretty cool.”
Why Trevor Immelman may be jumping the gun ever so slightly with praise for the PGA Tour
It is perhaps a little too soon to fully assess how successful the changes will be. It is surely only after a few years of seeing how the Korn Ferry Tour and DP World Tour are impacted that it will become clear.
Ultimately, if one or two big names drop down to the Korn Ferry Tour or decide to go play on the DP World Tour, it could really help the game grow.
If those tours attract plenty of attention with fans well aware that the PGA Tour is the end goal for those who tee it up, then it makes the PGA Tour all the more prestigious.
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