“I just feel like it’s Groundhog Day,” declared one of the hosts on the “Happy Hour: 2025 API at Bay Hill” podcast, perfectly capturing the exhausting cycle of the never-ending PGA Tour-LIV Golf saga. Just when golf fans thought the narrative might be shifting with Rory McIlroy‘s surprising new stance that the PGA Tour doesn’t need a deal with PIF anymore, industry insiders are warning of potentially dire consequences if negotiations collapse.
The Northern Irishman’s comments at Bay Hill this week represent a dramatic shift from his previous position, where he had been one of the most vocal advocates for reunification. “I think the narrative around golf, I wouldn’t say, needs a deal; I think the narrative around golf would welcome a deal in terms of just having all the best players together again. But I don’t think the PGA Tour needs a deal,” McIlroy told reporters, signaling an alignment with Jordan Spieth‘s long-held position.
This remarkable about-face comes just weeks after McIlroy urged everyone to “get over it” regarding any hurt feelings about players joining LIV Golf. His February statement that “reunification is the best thing for everyone” now appears contradicted by his latest assessment, leaving many wondering what prompted such a rapid change in perspective.
Analysts skeptical of PGA Tour’s improved position
On the “Happy Hour” podcast, the hosts expressed significant skepticism about McIlroy’s abrupt change of heart. After years of tension and back-and-forth, the sudden confidence from the PGA Tour side struck them as premature. “I can’t shift this quickly that the tour seems to be shifting here from ‘we don’t need a deal,’” one host emphasized, pointing to the whiplash-inducing nature of these stance changes after years of merger discussions.
The podcast panel acknowledged that the PGA Tour has seen some improvements but questioned whether these changes were substantial enough to justify McIlroy’s newfound independence. “TV getting slightly better off of the horrible ratings from last year—problem not solved there,” one host pointed out, highlighting that marginal improvements don’t necessarily indicate long-term stability.
February 16, 2025, La Jolla, California, USA: RORY MCILROY looks on while walking to the ninth hole during the final round of the 2025 Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California. La Jolla USA – ZUMAt158 20250216_zsp_t158_073 Copyright: xBrentonxTsex
On the subject of TGL, the new tech-infused league co-founded by McIlroy and Tiger Woods, the hosts were similarly measured. “TGL has been additive, I can agree there, but again, something nobody was asking for and hasn’t tangibly improved the Thursday through Sunday PGA Tour product in any way,” one analyst explained, suggesting that while TGL might be succeeding as a standalone product, it hasn’t necessarily strengthened the core PGA Tour experience that fans tune in for each weekend.
Beyond their skepticism of the PGA Tour’s current position, the podcast hosts raised alarming concerns about what might happen if the deal negotiations collapse entirely.
The pride factor could drive LIV’s aggressive response
The podcast’s most stark warning concerned what might happen if the PGA Tour walks away from deal negotiations, underestimating LIV Golf’s resolve. “I don’t think no deal means LIV just kind of lingers like it currently does,” a host cautioned, “because another round of bidding can happen very quickly, and they still have all the money.”
This assessment stems from PIF’s massive financial resources—estimated at over $700 billion—and their demonstrated willingness to invest heavily in sports as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative. The podcast panel warned that LIV Golf’s backing could enable them to launch another aggressive player recruitment campaign that might prove more damaging than the first wave.
The hosts pointed to the psychological factor driving PIF’s commitment to LIV Golf, suggesting that after such public investment, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund would be unlikely to simply admit defeat. “LIV is either going to spend more money or shut it down, and I would bet way more on spending more money here because they have a lot of pride involved with this at this point,” one analyst explained, adding that LIV might feel especially motivated “on the heels of a bad media” cycle to prove their critics wrong.
Whether McIlroy’s optimism is justified remains to be seen, but one thing is clear from the podcast discussion: if the deal falls through, LIV Golf is unlikely to fade quietly into the night. Professional golf’s “Groundhog Day” saga may be far from over. What do you think about McIlroy’s change in stance? Let us know in the comments below!
The post ‘Have All the Money’: Insider Warns Rory McIlroy & Co. of LIV Golf’s Next Big Poaching Amid PGA Tour’s Merger Hesitation appeared first on EssentiallySports.