Negotiations between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the PGA Tour appear to be nearing a conclusion after over 18 months of uncertainty for professional golf.
Since the emergence of the LIV Golf League, the world’s best players have competed against each other just four times a year: the major championships.
However, a merger–of some sort–is reportedly close with President Donald Trump now back in the White House. Back in November, speculative reports claimed the PIF was close to acquiring 11% of PGA Tour Enterprises.
After no news for two months, Jay Monahan and Adam Scott met with Trump last week, and player director Tiger Woods confirmed a merger could soon happen during a brief broadcast appearance at the Genesis Invitational.
The wheels are now very much in motion, and Golf Channel reporter Rex Hoggard revealed on Thursday that LIV players could play in the 2025 Players Championship.
There is now a genuine possibility of Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka teeing it up at TPC Sawgrass and here’s what two of the LIV stars had to say about the course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
What Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm said about TPC Sawgrass
Speaking before the 2021 Players Championship, DeChambeau discussed his impressive record around Sawgrass. “Yeah, it’s a very demanding golf course. You have to put the ball in play, and there are a few holes where you can take advantage, from a length perspective, but for the most part, the par-4s, you’ve got to hit it in play, and you’ve got to have great iron play this week,” DeChambeau said.
“So that’s what I’m really focused on. If I can get my iron play down this week and my wedges down this week, I’ll have a great chance to win with my putting.”
Rahm, also talking to the media before the 2021 edition, alluded to the difficulty of the course, particularly hitting approach shots into the green.
“We were talking about it yesterday, and it’s hard to be defensive with a wedge in your hand and you have to be a lot of times. Perfect example of it is the second shot on four,” Rahm said.
“That pin looks like it’s in the middle of the green, and I was lucky that that ball went dead straight at the pin and it didn’t draw because if it goes an inch left of where it was or way down there, where if you just hit it 15 feet right you’re going to have an easy putt. Same with the shot on 13. If you’re able to hit it on line, great, if not, you’re going to have 60 feet over the slope. It’s difficult.”
Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm’s performances at 2021 Players Championship
The 2021 Players was hugely positive for DeChambeau. The now two-time US Open champ finished at 12 under, two shots back of eventual winner, Justin Thomas. DeChambeau carded three rounds in the 60s before coming up short on Sunday.
The American was left to rue a double-bogey on the par-four fourth hole, which saw him shoot 38 on the front nine. DeChambeau then carded three under on the back to come up agonisingly short. Had he not found the water on the front nine, DeChambeau could have won one of golf’s most lucrative prizes.
Rahm ended the week eight under after struggling during the final round. The Spaniard couldn’t build any momentum and shot one over on the back nine to finish six shots back.
Fellow LIV stars Sergio Garcia, Talor Gooch, Lee Westwood and Paul Casey all finished in the top ten back in 2021.
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