The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf introduced on Tuesday they’re merging to kind “a new collectively owned” entity; the sensational announcement shocked gamers and pundits alike and has acquired a combined response from the world of golf and past
Last Updated: 06/06/23 11:28pm
LIV Golf is merging with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to kind ‘a brand new collectively owned’ entity
The world of golf has been expressing its shock, shock and emotions of betrayal on the beautiful announcement that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf are to merge to kind a brand new entity.
More than a 12 months of rivalry and litigation between LIV and the established Tours and the gamers who joined the brand new competitors led to probably the most astonishing and abrupt trend on Tuesday with the announcement the three our bodies had arrange a brand new business entity to “unify golf”.
One American participant, Wesley Bryan, replied to the PGA Tour tweet confirming the merger by writing: “Love finding out info on Twitter. This is amazing. Y’all should be ashamed and have a lot of questions to answer.
“I really feel betrayed, and will be unable to belief anybody throughout the company construction of the PGA Tour for a really very long time.”
The move came as a huge surprise to many professionals, with Canadian Mackenzie Hughes tweeting: “Nothing like discovering out by way of Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we stated we would by no means do this with.”
PGA Tour golfer Michael Kim questioned how many people had known the merger was to happen.
He tweeted: “The hell is occurring? Very curious how many individuals knew this deal was taking place. About 5-7 folks? Player run group proper?”
But six-time major winner Phil Mickelson, one of the players who joined LIV Golf, described the merger as “superior information”
And Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, who left the DP World Tour for LIV Golf, stated: “Common sense has prevailed!!!”
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman had been a notable absentee from the press release announcing the merger, and it later transpired he had only been told about it moments before the news was made public.
But late on Tuesday he tweeted: “An amazing day in international golf for gamers and followers alike. The journey continues!!”
Not getting in on the social media reaction was Rory McIlroy, who spent the past year vehemently defending the PGA Tour against LIV before going quiet on the topic in recent weeks.
South Korea’s Byeong-Hun An, known as Ben An on the PGA Tour, and former winner of the BMW PGA Championship, labelled the merger a “win-win” for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf but a “large lose” for players who had remained loyal to the Tour.
He tweeted: “I’m guessing the LIV groups have been struggling to get sponsors and PGA Tour could not flip down the cash.
“Win-win for both tours but it’s a big lose for those who defended the tour for the last two years.”
R&A chief govt Martin Slumbers welcomed the information of the settlement, writing in an announcement: “We are pleased that an agreement has been reached which will help men’s professional golf move forward in a collaborative, constructive and innovative fashion.
“We care deeply about golf’s future and are dedicated to making sure that the game continues to thrive for a few years to return.
“This agreement represents a huge step toward achieving that goal for golf and we look forward to working with the new entity for the benefit of the sport globally.”
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Sky Sports News’ Jamie Weir explains the implications of the merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf
Masters chairman Fred Ridley stated: “As we have expressed previously, what makes golf special is its rich history and ability to bring people together. We are encouraged by this announcement, which represents a positive development in bringing harmony to men’s professional golf.
“Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament are-and will remain-devoted to creating the sport and celebrating its many virtues.”
Sky Sports Golf analyst and 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley told Sky Sports News: “Any day that golf is united is an efficient day.
“The last two years it has not been united. It has been a diluted product for the consumer. There has been a lot of acrimony among the players and the tours.
“It has been very fractious. And the very fact it will be united once more – in no matter kind that could be – is clearly a very good day.”
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Sky Sports’ Andrew Coltart was ‘shocked’ by the news the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf are to merge to become one unified entity
Sky Sports Golf analyst Rich Beem added: “It’s positively historic information, we’ll have to attend to see if it is a constructive historic.”
The new entity will be powered by Saudi Arabia’s financial muscle, with the statement confirming the merger saying that the Middle Eastern country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) would “make a capital funding into the brand new entity to facilitate its development and success”.
Amnesty International expressed concern at what it saw as a further attempt by Saudi Arabia to launder its human rights record through the vehicle of sport.
“While this will have taken some golf followers and commentators unexpectedly, it is actually simply extra proof of the onward march of Saudi sportswashing,” Amnesty UK’s Felix Jakens said.
“It’s been clear for a while that Saudi Arabia was ready to make use of huge quantities of cash to muscle its means into top-tier golf – simply a part of a wider effort to grow to be a significant sporting energy and to attempt to distract consideration from the nation’s atrocious human rights document.”
And the 9/11 Families United organisation – a group of survivors and the families of victims of the September 11 2001 terror attacks – said it was “shocked and deeply offended” by the merger.
“Mr. Monahan (PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan) talked final summer season about figuring out individuals who misplaced family members on 9/11, then puzzled aloud on nationwide tv whether or not LIV Golfers ever needed to apologise for being a member of the PGA Tour,” the organisation said in a statement.
“They do now – as does he. PGA Tour leaders must be ashamed of their hypocrisy and greed. Our complete 9/11 group has been betrayed by Commissioner Monahan and the PGA because it seems their concern for our family members was merely window-dressing of their quest for cash – it was by no means to honour the nice sport of golf.”
Source: www.skysports.com
