Posted on 06/06/2023 8:18:02 AM PDT by WhoisAlanGreenspan?
The PGA Tour, European Tour and rival Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit announced a landmark agreement on Tuesday to merge and form a commercial entity to unify golf.
Additionally, the three organizations said in a joint news release that they will work cooperatively to allow a process for any LIV Golf players to reapply for PGA Tour and DP World Tour membership following the 2023 season.
"After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love," PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a joint news release.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Just figured it out... With this merger nobody looks at the Saudi’s books... Nobody looks at the PGA’s books... So they get to keep their dirty secret cash funds, as dirty secrets.
I’ll bet those guys that turned down tens of millions to switch feel pretty stupid today.
Nice one!
Does this mean the PGA will stop the bias against trump’s courses? Probably not.
Everybody loves money. And the whole “blood money” thing was always kind of silly. Especially from European players. DP has a bunch of events in the Middle East, Saudi, Dubai, Qatar. So they’re all taking that “blood money” one way or the other.
IMHO, PGA caved. I’m assuming ratings down, unless it was a major tournament most of the time no one knew who was playing save for the few big names who didnt go to LIV. The PGA had it good, some of the players griped about certain things and they didnt listen. Along comes LIV and lo and behold the PGA starts giving out more money etc. They had it coming.
As for Saudi blood money, the US government is into some shady stuff as well. We’re just a lot more quiet and subtle about it than the Saudis
I think it worked better than the Saudis expected. With LIV golfers in the top money spots in both majors played so far it was clear that they weren’t playing “fake golf” like the PGA kept insisting. And it guaranteed the majors (which mostly aren’t run by the PGA) would keep wanting LIV players in the field. So the PGA wasn’t going to be able to use that leverage. The LIV was in control of these negotiations, that was obvious when the PGA declared this year tour would include 54 hole tournaments with higher purses. They were already starting to tweak things to try to keep players.
First things first... Jay Monahan is persona non grata...
He needs to be removed as the commissioner. PGA tour players will not accept him as the head of golf after being lied to and misled by a commissioner who can be bought and sold after a couple of rounds of golf in London.
LIV incorporates both.
LIV incorporates dudes in shorts laughing, playing loud music and acting like a-holes... That isn’t golf... That’s golfing with your buddies while getting drunk... Golf is a sport of etiquette, discipline and courtesy. LIV is a half *ssed joke.
The oil Saudi oil barons just bought golf... The fans are not happy, the golfers who respect golf aren’t happy and Jay Monahan is wealthy because he played golf with a rich Saudi on the weekend who offered him a pile of money. Maybe his gambling habit is worse than Mickelson’s... Maybe they have photos of Jay with boys... We’ll likely never know, but the Saudi’s just bought the man... If he can live with that and go to sleep at night, that’s his business.
There will be another tour starting up... One that doesn’t accept and incorporate nonsense and blood money... That tour will survive... This new ‘new’ tour will disappear.
I understand they are going to announce a new name for the merged tour. I suggest it be called the Nine-Eleven Tour. The PGA just sold out to a filthy bunch of murdering terrorists, and have completely disregarded Saudi’s role in 9-11 and other terrorist acts. What’s next... a sellout of the LPGA and have the women play while dressed in burkas! This makes me want to puke.
Too late, they are already sponsored by SA.
I guess the merger will bring the top talent back and push this season's winners back to also-rans?
-PJ
Quite a deal. McIlroy lost. He’ll be back in the 10th-20th range again.
I wonder if any players will come out as gay since there will be the potential of being tossed off a roof? The LPGA better damn sure be leery of any deal with the ragheads.
Without cable? Not a prayer in hell.
A LIV/PGA Tour Card is the new license to print money. The Korn tour is going to be overrun.
I guarantee you Champions Tour regulars Stricker, Cink, Ames, Kelly, even Daly, are going to compete for a regular Tour card now.
This is the likely outcome... Jay Monahan will be resigning... That’s the cost of this unholy merger.
The Korn Ferry tour is owned by the PGA tour, as is the Champions Tour... They aren’t going anywhere and neither is the PGA tour. The only way this merger happens is the elimination of LIV as a tour. Greg Norman is going to get the boot as well... Say bye, bye to Greg.
The PGA is making a deal with PIF... The ‘Private Investment Fund’ which is owned by the Saudi’s, they are not making a deal with LIV... They will create a ‘for profit’ tour (to be named later)... The top PGA tour players can play on that tour run by PIF for sh*ts and giggles, and they will maintain their PGA tour cards and play the PGA tour as a place to earn WGR points.
These ‘PIF’ events will be the same nonsense as LIV with a different name. The big losers... The 35 guys who currently play on LIV and can’t compete even on the Korn Ferry tour... Those poor saps are out of a job.
Are they all going to be 54 holes now? I would think there would be some 72 hole tourneys and some 54 hole ones.
I don’t follow golf though.
No, you misunderstood, and I'll take the heat, because it could be interpreted both ways...the Korn Ferry tour is going to be 'overrun' with competitors.
"The only way this merger happens is the elimination of LIV as a tour. Greg Norman is going to get the boot as well... Say bye, bye to Greg."
That's just onanism and you know it. PIF is going to call the shots with the PGA as a perfunctory "Board", and PIF will put Norman and Mick on that "Board".
"The 35 guys who currently play on LIV and can’t compete even on the Korn Ferry tour... Those poor saps are out of a job."
I don't disagree that the the last 20 on LIV are going to have to go back to work, OTOH none signed for less than 8M -- if people can't find a way to invest an 8M windfall and be set for life at 46, then they were already f'd when they played on the PGA Tour, genius.
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