PGA TOUR’s Reported Merger with LIV Golf: Pump the Brakes

Despite recent reports that the PGA TOUR’s merger with LIV Golf is nearing a done deal, it might be wise to pump the brakes, at least for now.

Last week, reports from Europe indicated LIV Golf’s main financial backer, the Saudi PIF, was set to funnel billions into the PGA TOUR, effectively ending division in men’s professional golf.

It was a long time coming, and the report indicated that Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were big parts of the merger being agreed to.

The Independent

However, it seems things are not quite done.

A new report from Front Office Sports indicates that there has been “heavy internal pressure” to get a deal done. But things are not quite ready yet:

“There has been heavy internal pressure, sources tell Front Office Sports, to ink a peace treaty before the end of the year to avoid making future scheduling more complicated than it already will be … The Sun, in a story that screamed ‘golf’s civil war is over,’ claims an agreement has been reached that would fold LIV under the umbrella of the newly formed for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises and hand the PIF an 11% stake in return for $1.3 billion. Those numbers match internal valuations that were discussed much earlier in the process and would hand PIF two board seats, including the role of chairman.”

The report from FOS also indicates that some of the highest-level senior executives from both sides have had to rely on media reports for information on negotiations, which means it is highly unlikely things would be leaked that a merger is done. 

Neither the PGA TOUR or LIV Golf has talked about the deal, or whether the two are close.