And we’re back to the merger talks again! After a recent governors’s dinner, US President Donald Trump revealed that the long-awaited LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger is almost a done deal, stating that there’s a “very good chance” the two leagues will finalize a deal soon. This update comes on the heels of a high-profile meeting at the White House, where Tiger Woods, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, and Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Al-Rumayyan gathered to discuss the potential merger.
Woods expressed optimism about the merger, saying “I think things are going to heal quickly” and that “the fans want all of us to play together.” While the proposed merger still faces regulatory scrutiny, the involvement of Trump and Woods suggests that a deal might actually come together with a potential return of some of the LIV defectors. Furthermore, another PGA Tour pro has hinted at a major update on the merger talks, and now it does seem like things are closer than we think!
In the latest episode of 5 Clubs on YouTube, PGA Tour pro Billy Horschel revealed that a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is on the horizon. “I think a deal is imminent,” Horschel stated, hinting that an agreement could be reached within the next two months. This news comes as a welcome relief to golf fans who have been waiting for a resolution to the ongoing feud between the two organizations.
Horschel, who has been closely following the developments, believes that the deal is not just a matter of a “click of the fingers” but rather a complex process that requires careful consideration. “Listen, there’s a lot of little things they got to figure out, and it’s not just, you know, a click of the fingers that we can make this easy,” he explained. Horschel also reflected on his previous statements, saying “I said this at the ’22 Scottish Open, I think it was, when I first addressed this whole LIV situation in PIF. I thought, you know, at that time, I said about five years down the road, I could see us coming together and figuring out how to make things work.”
As for the impact on LIV Golfers, Horschel acknowledged that their return to the PGA Tour is uncertain, but a deal would be a significant step towards bringing the game of golf back together. He also shared his understanding of the motivations behind LIV Golf, saying “He just wants to be in the game of golf. I guess you’ve heard it so many times… said he wants a seat at the table.” Ultimately, Horschel is optimistic about the prospects of a merger, stating “We’re close, and we’re just hopefully we can get something done.” He also expressed regret over the impact of the feud on golf fans, saying “I could never imagine… that we would have disenchanted our fans so much.”
Apr 15, 2021; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Billy Horschel tees off on the ninth hole during the first round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
While Horschel does seem like he is on board with the whole merger decision, we can’t forget the stance and demands he had on the same last year.
Billy Horshcel believed that the golf world needs an ‘a global tour’
In the 2024 season, Billy Horschel shared his thoughts on the PGA Tour’s talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. He has a big idea for a new golf tour. Horschel wants a global tour with the top 120 players, competing in 20-25 events around the world. This tour would be connected to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, with players moving up and down between them. As Horschel said, “I believe we need to create a pyramid scheme. I think we need one big tour at the top, which is a global tour.” His goal is to make golf more global and exciting, with a clear path for players to succeed.
Justin Rose, on the other hand, was not as convinced that a merger was possible. He thinks that the golfing schedule is already too packed and that adding more tournaments would be a challenge. Rose believes that the top players only want to compete in a limited number of tournaments and that this could hinder the merger’s success. “I think that’s why there was an opportunity for someone, a tour, a league to kind of have the concept, at least hypothetically, that the top players want to play X amount of times together, and that’s why we are where we are”, Rose had said. While Horschel’s optimism is encouraging, Rose’s concerns raise important questions about the feasibility of the merger and the potential impact on the golfing world. What are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comment section below!
The post ‘Over the Next Month’: PGA Tour Pro Leaks LIV Golf Merger Details as Frustration Mounts Over Delay appeared first on EssentiallySports.