Los Angeles (USA) (EFE).- The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), owner of the LIV Golf circuit, have announced a historic agreement on Tuesday to unify the game of golf through world level.
“The parties have entered into an agreement that combines the golf-related business and rights of the PIF (including LIV Golf) with the business and commercial rights of the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour into a new for-profit entity, owned by collectively, to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from a model that offers maximum excitement and competition among the best players in the game,” the three announced in a statement.
This unexpected move ends months of open confrontation and head-on clash between the PGA Tour and the controversial LIV Golf, a Saudi-backed initiative that aspired to organize a circuit that rivals the US-based tour in quality and prestige.
Solution for the golf division
The resignation of top-level players from the PGA Tour in the direction of a LIV Golf with much more succulent financial prizes opened a huge crack in the world of golf that now seems to be closing.
“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the sport we all know and love,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
“This transformative partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA Tour’s history, legacy and professional competition and combines it with the PGA Tour and the LIV – including the concept of team golf – to create an organization that benefits golfers, to commercial and charitable partners and fans,” he added.
Monahan maintained that this agreement shows that everyone “is committed” to guaranteeing the future of golf.
For his part, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the PIF, assures that it is “a very exciting day” for the world of golf.
“We are committed to unifying, promoting and growing golf around the world by offering the highest quality product to millions of longtime fans while cultivating new fans. There is no doubt that the LIV model has been positively transformative for golf. We believe there are opportunities for this sport to evolve while maintaining its tradition and history,” he added.
circuit integration
The first immediate effect of this agreement is the resolution of the pending legal cases that existed between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour. A new organization will emerge from this pact to lead world golf, the name of which is still unknown.
“The new entity will work to ensure a cohesive calendar of events that will be exciting for fans, sponsors and all interested parties,” they stated.
They also pointed out that players who left the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour to go to LIV Golf will be able to return to those circuits.
“All parties will work in the coming months to finalize the terms of the agreement with details to be announced in due course,” they said.
Great figures were in the midst
In May 2022, the PGA Tour took a significant step forward in its fight with LIV Golf by denying permission for players on its tour to compete in the first event of the Saudi initiative.
This caused sanctions and the abandonment of the PGA Tour towards LIV Golf by very prominent players such as the Spanish Sergio García, the Americans Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, the English Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood or the Mexican Abraham Ancer, among others.
Since then, the controversies and rivalry between supporters of LIV Golf and defenders of the PGA Tour -such as the Spanish Jon Rahm or Tiger Woods- have not stopped growing until the signing of this agreement that announces a new phase for world golf.