PGA TOUR Threatens LIV Golf ‘Duel’ Creators, But It Didn’t Go As Planned

According to a report, the PGA TOUR responded to LIV Golf’s creator/pro tournament announced last week called “The Duels,” trying to push sanctions on the creators who chose to collaborate with its rival golf tour. The problem is that the PGA TOUR did not get the result it hoped for as it did not go as planned, not even in the slightest.

Last week, LIV Golf announced it had established “The Duels,” a new type of competition that would put one creator with one LIV Golf pro at Miami’s Trump National Doral golf course this coming week. The eight players are fan favorites and notable names, a solid embrace between the two groups that aims to make a new and exciting event for fans to watch.

LIV Golf Announces MASSIVE Scramble Duels with Creators

The PGA TOUR was not having any of it. In very typical fashion, the TOUR pushed back against the creators by reportedly threatening them with sanctions and future penalties that could impact their ability to participate in future events.

The creators then pushed back against the TOUR, which evidently ended any discussions that involved future sanctions.

According to Flushing It on X:

"The PGA Tour reached out to creators involved with LIV Golf’s “The Duels” and threatened them with potential future suspensions if they participated in the unsanctioned event, inline with the rules for non-members who play full LIV Golf League tournaments. The creators pushed back; however, the threats of sanctions have been dropped."

The PGA Tour reached out to creators involved with LIV Golf’s “The Duels” and threatened them with potential future suspensions if they participated in the unsanctioned event, inline with the rules for non members who play full LIV Golf League tournaments. The creators pushed… https://t.co/EDffD8jvxQ

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) March 31, 2025

What's very upsetting here is that the creators are not under contract by any tour and are independent contractors who make their own living and work for themselves, at least for the most part.

The TOUR threatening these creators is such a sour look, and the prospect of threatening people who might be fans but are not contractually obligated to your organization is just bad.

Some of the participants in The Duels have played in the TOUR's Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass during the week of THE PLAYERS, but that does not make them employees or loyal to the TOUR.

The TOUR has also controlled much of the media that is out there in terms of what can be shared on independent channels. DMCA strikes are consistently applied to everyone, even players, if they share PGA TOUR footage on personal social channels. This makes things less than desirable for those creators who make their living off of publicity.

Cover Image via United States Golf Teachers Association