The merger heard ‘round the world

The PGA Tour has apparently been getting served self-development TikToks with the overall message to “LIV more.” Because yesterday, it announced a merger with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

The agreement, which was reportedly negotiated in secret over lunch meetings and a round of golf, combines the formerly-bitter-rivals into a larger golf enterprise. And it comes as a surprise to many fans, players, and personnel.

⛳️ Quick background: When LIV Golf, backed by billions from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, burst onto the scene in 2021 as a direct competitor to the PGA Tour, it caused more chaos than when Happy Gilmore beat Shooter McGavin on the 18th hole. 

LIV enticed many of the Tour’s golfers with its deep pockets and new format, though many also criticized the league for attempting to "sportswash" the country's image in light of its human rights record – including Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who just one year ago accused LIV of (among other things) being “a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars in an attempt to buy the game of golf.” 

💰🤑 Which brings us to the deal points: Any ongoing litigation between the two organizations is hereby halted. The PGA Tour’s and LIV Golf’s commercial businesses rights will be combined into a new, yet-to-be-named for-profit company. And Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is reportedly prepared to invest billions of dollars into this new entity as its exclusive investor.

Other details – like what happens to the players who defected to LIV for nine-figure bonuses – are sparse, but expected to be hashed out over the coming weeks.