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The PGA Tour-LIV merger shook the golf world. Players reacted *very* differently

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The PGA Tour and LIV Golf announced a merger Tuesday morning.

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The golf world was shook to its very core Tuesday morning.

In a surprising reversal, the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf announced they will be merging into one entity. The announcement ends a months-long standoff between some of golf’s largest stakeholders, and changes the landscape of the sport as we know it.

The merger came as a surprise to all but the inner-most parties of each body. PGA Tour members heard the news via social media — at least according to their tweets — with Jay Monahan sending a letter to players shortly after.

“I love finding out morning news on Twitter,” Collin Morikawa wrote.

I love finding out morning news on Twitter — Collin Morikawa (@collin_morikawa) June 6, 2023

Callum Tarren, a second-year Tour pro, said in an interview with Golf Channel he found out the news while in the fitness trailer at this week’s RBC Canadian Open. He also said that he feels as though players who stayed loyal to the PGA Tour were kicked “in the teeth.”

“Obviously Rory [McIlroy] was a huge advocate of the PGA Tour,” he said. “And now he kind of looks like all his hard work and sticking up for the PGA Tour was left by the wayside.”

(McIlroy has not publicly made any statements in regards to the mergers, but many other pros have.)

PGA Tour, LIV Golf announce plan to merge in stunning reversal

After months of preaching anti-LIV sentiments, especially as it pertains to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, Jay Monahan made an appearance on CNBC with Yasir Al Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, explaining the merger.

“A lot of people have been reading about the tension,” Monahan said. “And we’ve talked a lot, and I said previously that we were going down our path and they were going down theirs. And today, that tension goes away. The litigation is dropped. We’re announcing to the world that on behalf of this game, we’re coming together.”

Some players were not pleased with Monahan’s plan to not only merge with LIV, but also keep Tour members in the dark about the decision.

Was having quite the nice practice session this morning too pic.twitter.com/qWBKuM2yHO — Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) June 6, 2023

“Tell me why Jay Monahan basically got a promotion to CEO of all golf in the world by going back on everything he said the past 2 years?” Dylan Wu tweeted. “The hypocrisy. Wish golf worked like that. I guess money always wins.”

Wesley Bryan added: “I feel betrayed, and will not not be able to trust anyone within the corporate structure of the PGA Tour for a very long time.”

A players’ meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. today at the RBC Canadian Open.

LIV golfers, however, struck quite a different tune when the news broke. Phil Mickelson, one of LIV’s biggest names and one of the most ardent supporters of the tour, quote tweeted the merger news and said, “Awesome day today.”

Awesome day today 😊 https://t.co/qUwVJiydym — Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) June 6, 2023

Others also chimed in.

Soo can I play tpc sugarloaf again? @PGATOUR — Andy Ogletree (@andy_ogletree) June 6, 2023

Time to get on the bush hog — Harold Varner III (@HV3_Golf) June 6, 2023

Alluding to Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee’s critical takes on LIV Golf, Brooks Koepka tweeted, “Welfare check on Chamblee.” Bryson DeChambeau posted “What a monumental day for the game of golf!!” to his Instagram story.

With details emerging as the day progresses, there is only more fallout to come, but one thing is certain: pro golf will never be the same after today.

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Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at [email protected].

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Golf world reacts to PGA Tour-LIV unification

In a massive development announced Tuesday morning, the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf League announced they were unifying .

The deal ends two years of what PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan called "disruption and distraction," but also included numerous legal proceedings and tense relationships between players across the different circuits.

The deal's announcement caught players by surprise. One PGA Tour player, reached by ESPN on Tuesday, said: "No f---ing way."

Other players from the leagues shared their reactions:

Awesome day today 😊 https://t.co/qUwVJiydym — Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) June 6, 2023

Welfare Check on Chamblee — Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) June 6, 2023

Monumental day for the game of golf. — Bryson DeChambeau (@b_dechambeau) June 6, 2023

For a kid whose only jobs have been caddy and golfer that struggles to remember to check his email, I sure have been on a lot of important business-like phone calls today — max homa (@maxhoma23) June 7, 2023

Was having quite the nice practice session this morning too pic.twitter.com/qWBKuM2yHO — Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) June 6, 2023

And everyone thought yesterday was the longest day in golf — Collin Morikawa (@collin_morikawa) June 6, 2023

Cheers to my LIV and PGA Tour people, cheers to the future of golf, and cheers to the fans. Today was a win for all of us. I'm more than excited for the future. Go Range Goats pic.twitter.com/EsAE9Qgarf — Talor Gooch (@TalorGooch) June 6, 2023

I've grown up being a fan of the 4 Aces. Maybe one day I get to play for them on the PGA Tour! — Joel Dahmen (@Joel_Dahmen) June 6, 2023

The golf world right now.. pic.twitter.com/RRtdXFbYNJ — Smylie Kaufman (@SmylieKaufman10) June 6, 2023

Very curious how many people knew this deal was happening. About 5-7 people? Player run organization right? 🤷🏻‍♂️ — Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) June 6, 2023

Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we're merging with a tour that we said we'd never do that with. — Mackenzie Hughes (@MacHughesGolf) June 6, 2023

Golf pros react to PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger

The news of golf's new merge on tuesday sent shockwaves across the internet, by julia elbaba • published june 6, 2023 • updated on june 6, 2023 at 3:50 pm.

Who could've seen this one coming?

The PGA Tour announced on Tuesday morning that it would merge  with the controversial  LIV Golf  in order to "unify the game of golf." The deal also includes the DP World Tour, which is the PGA's European Tour.

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The announcement has shocked the golf world and has pro players who currently tour utterly speechless.

So how did the players react and what is being said about the merge? Let's take a look at some of the reactions:

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Welfare Check on Chamblee — Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) June 6, 2023

I’ve grown up being a fan of the 4 Aces. Maybe one day I get to play for them on the PGA Tour! — Joel Dahmen (@Joel_Dahmen) June 6, 2023

I love finding out morning news on Twitter — Collin Morikawa (@collin_morikawa) June 6, 2023

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Very curious how many people knew this deal was happening. About 5-7 people? Player run organization right? 🤷🏻‍♂️ — Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) June 6, 2023

The golf world right now.. pic.twitter.com/RRtdXFbYNJ — Smylie Kaufman (@SmylieKaufman10) June 6, 2023

Awesome day today 😊 https://t.co/qUwVJiydym — Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) June 6, 2023

🤔 https://t.co/9Hx4rGZSrI — Smylie Kaufman (@SmylieKaufman10) June 6, 2023

Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we said we’d never do that with. — Mackenzie Hughes (@MacHughesGolf) June 6, 2023

pic.twitter.com/dndiYfJ12u — Tyrrell Hatton (@TyrrellHatton) June 6, 2023

Time to get on the bush hog — Harold Varner III (@HV3_Golf) June 6, 2023

https://t.co/ON6E91L3GE pic.twitter.com/6zGxWZ1orE — max homa (@maxhoma23) June 6, 2023

Was having quite the nice practice session this morning too pic.twitter.com/qWBKuM2yHO — Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) June 6, 2023

Reaction from Sahith Theegala. Players just in absolute shock. pic.twitter.com/E8rCLvOtCi — Gabby Herzig (@GabbyHerzig) June 6, 2023

This article tagged under:

Golf pros react to PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger

The news of golf's new merge on tuesday sent shockwaves across the internet, by julia elbaba • published june 6, 2023 • updated on june 6, 2023 at 4:50 pm.

Who could've seen this one coming?

The PGA Tour announced on Tuesday morning that it would merge  with the controversial  LIV Golf  in order to "unify the game of golf." The deal also includes the DP World Tour, which is the PGA's European Tour.

The announcement has shocked the golf world and has pro players who currently tour utterly speechless.

24/7 New York news stream: Watch NBC 4 free wherever you are

So how did the players react and what is being said about the merge? Let's take a look at some of the reactions:

Welfare Check on Chamblee — Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) June 6, 2023

I’ve grown up being a fan of the 4 Aces. Maybe one day I get to play for them on the PGA Tour! — Joel Dahmen (@Joel_Dahmen) June 6, 2023

Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.

I love finding out morning news on Twitter — Collin Morikawa (@collin_morikawa) June 6, 2023

TCU coach Sonny Dykes ejected after 2 unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against SMU, his former team

Breaking down the WNBA's record-setting season by the numbers

Very curious how many people knew this deal was happening. About 5-7 people? Player run organization right? 🤷🏻‍♂️ — Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) June 6, 2023

The golf world right now.. pic.twitter.com/RRtdXFbYNJ — Smylie Kaufman (@SmylieKaufman10) June 6, 2023

Awesome day today 😊 https://t.co/qUwVJiydym — Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) June 6, 2023

🤔 https://t.co/9Hx4rGZSrI — Smylie Kaufman (@SmylieKaufman10) June 6, 2023

Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we said we’d never do that with. — Mackenzie Hughes (@MacHughesGolf) June 6, 2023

pic.twitter.com/dndiYfJ12u — Tyrrell Hatton (@TyrrellHatton) June 6, 2023

Time to get on the bush hog — Harold Varner III (@HV3_Golf) June 6, 2023

https://t.co/ON6E91L3GE pic.twitter.com/6zGxWZ1orE — max homa (@maxhoma23) June 6, 2023

Was having quite the nice practice session this morning too pic.twitter.com/qWBKuM2yHO — Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) June 6, 2023

Reaction from Sahith Theegala. Players just in absolute shock. pic.twitter.com/E8rCLvOtCi — Gabby Herzig (@GabbyHerzig) June 6, 2023

This article tagged under:

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‘Betrayed and humiliated’: PGA Tour players speak out amid LIV Golf merger

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced a partnership with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, leaving players confused, betrayed and out of the loop.

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Share All sharing options for: ‘Betrayed and humiliated’: PGA Tour players speak out amid LIV Golf merger

Tuesday’s news shocked the entire golfing world, including players on the PGA Tour, who felt betrayed and humiliated , per Todd Lewis of the Golf Channel.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced a partnership for men’s professional golf going forward.

“Tell me why Jay Monahan basically got a promotion to CEO of all golf in the world by going back on everything he said the past 2 years,” PGA Tour member Dylan Wu tweeted . “The hypocrisy. Wish golf worked like that. I guess money always wins @PGATour.”

No PGA Tour member, not even Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy, had any idea of this developing situation.

Like everyone else, PGA Tour players first discovered the news on social media.

“Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we said we’d never do that with,” said McKenzie Hughes, a Canadian golfer, on Twitter.

I love finding out morning news on Twitter — Collin Morikawa (@collin_morikawa) June 6, 2023

Rex Hoggard of the Golf Channel said on live television that many players “are angered” about Tuesday’s news. He even received text messages from players calling for Monahan to resign.

Shortly after the news dropped live on CNBC, a formal memo from the Commissioner followed.

“We are pleased to move forward, in step with LIV and PIF’s world-class investing experience, and I applaud PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan for his vision and collaborative and forward-thinking approach that is not just a solution to the rift in our game but also a commitment to taking it to new heights,” Monahan’s statement read.

“This will engender a new era in global golf, for the better.”

The Commissioner went behind the scenes to strike a deal with PIF, which has poured almost $1 billion into LIV Golf.

A year ago, Monahan suspended players who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.

Now the two leagues will co-exist, merging into a single entity, as the PIF will invest considerable amounts of money into professional golf.

“Today is a very exciting day for this special game and the people it touches around the world,” said Al-Rumayyan. “We are proud to partner with the PGA TOUR to leverage PIF’s unparalleled success and track record of unlocking value and bringing innovation and global best practices to business and sectors worldwide. We are committed to unifying, promoting, and growing the game of golf around the world and offering the highest-quality product to the many millions of long-time fans globally while cultivating new fans.”

Next Up In Golf

• Rory McIlroy faces 3-shot deficit at BMW PGA Championship; here are Round 4 tee times
• Rory McIlroy, Billy Horschel’s group catches fire; pour in 20 combined birdies at BMW PGA
• Rory McIlroy trails by 4 at BMW PGA Championship: here are Round 3 Tee Times
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PGA Tour players react to LIV Golf merger

Mike Weir, Adam Hadwin and other players across the PGA Tour discuss their initial thoughts on the sudden news of their organization’s merger with LIV Golf.

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Fans, players, media react to news of PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger

The news of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf agreeing to merge into one for-profit golf entity exploded across social media, with a number of golf outlets, reporters and fans reacting to the news:

• Golf podcast No Laying Up : "Virtually everything that has happened in the last two years has been rumored, hinted at, or at least done with SOME awareness in the golf community. This seems to be an absolute stunner for essentially everyone, players included." 
• Golf Digest Sr Writer Joel Beall : "There's so much to unpack, but the thing I keep going back to is this: Rory McIlroy took a stand for what he believed was right—which brought an invisible pain and weight that can't be measured—and was sold out by the very thing he was trying to defend."
• ESPN host Scott Van Pelt : "So, you preach loyalty to a tour and convince guys not to take 8 and 9 figure deals based, in part, on that loyalty and, in part, on the source of the money. Then those guys find out on Twitter YOU took the very same money? Nino Brown, 'Always business, never personal.'"
• Golf broadcaster Shane Bacon : "This is going to be an all-time day in terms of golf retweets from @OldTakesExposed." 
• No Laying Up Editorial Dir Kevin Van Valkenburg : "I don't know how any player who turned down LIV money and stayed with the PGA could believe anything Jay Monahan says ever again. He made them take every arrow, hid in an office for a year, then double crossed them on CNBC. Better get them paid, I guess." 
• Fire Pit Collective writer Alan Shipnuck : "How do you think Rickie Fowler feels right now? He turned down a $75 million LIV offer. Top players on LIV are ecstatic: they got huge upfront $ and their franchise values just skyrocketed. Tour players can still cash in as LIV will be recruiting again but the gold rush is over."
• No Laying Up co-founder Todd Schuster : "This is exactly what was proposed four years ago to Monahan and he refused to even have a conversation. The for-profit framework sitting on top of the non-profit tour with a number of different off-shoots, both with/without Saudi funding. He needs to resign immediately."
• "Full Swing" Exec Producer Chad Mumm : "Good time to make a golf show!"
• Barstool Sports personality Dan Katz : "Guys who got paid millions and millions and now less than a year later get their PGA tour card back, what a heist."

A number of PGA Tour players also reacted to the news, and many weren't happy about not getting advanced notice: 

• Collin Morikawa : "I love finding out morning news on Twitter."
• Michael Kim : "Very curious how many people knew this deal was happening. About 5-7 people? Player run organization right?"
• Byeong Hun An : "I’m guessing the liv teams were struggling to get sponsors and pga tour couldn’t turn down the money. Win-win for both tours but it’s a big lose for who defended the tour for last two years."
• Mackenzie Hughes : "Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we said we’d never do that with."
• Wesley Bryan : "I feel betrayed, and will not not be able to trust anyone within the corporate structure of the PGA TOUR for a very long time."
• Dylan Wu : "Tell me why Jay Monahan basically got a promotion to CEO of all golf in the world by going back on everything he said the past 2 years. The hypocrisy. Wish golf worked like that. I guess money always wins." 
• Joel Dahmen : "I’ve grown up being a fan of the 4 Aces. Maybe one day I get to play for them on the PGA Tour!"

There were also several LIV players who reacted to the news, and they seemed in a much more boastful mood than the PGA Tour players:

• Phil Mickelson : "Awesome day today."
• Brooks Koepka : "Welfare Check on Chamblee."
• Andy Ogletree : "Soo can I play tpc sugarloaf again?"
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Jon Rahm joins LIV Golf: Rickie Fowler, Jason Day among PGA Tour players reacting to defection of world No. 3

Some of rahm's former pga tour peers offered their perspective of his decision.

Reality has set in for players on the PGA Tour as one of their best and brightest stars will no longer be with them on a weekly basis. With world No. 3 golfer Jon Rahm defecting LIV Golf , the departure of the two-time major champion and 2023 Masters winner has sent shockwaves through the golf world.

"Ultimately, down the road, division isn't a good thing," said Rickie Fowler. "I'm hopeful things will continue to work in the right direction for the greater of the game. But what that is, I don't know. I wish I could tell you. We're kind of all on this ride together and kind of figuring out and learning as we go."

Rahm's election to jump to LIV Golf comes at a time when the professional landscape is in flux. However, after two years, it appeared the game was finally on the road to recovery as the PGA Tour began negotiating with the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund -- the financial backer of LIV Golf -- to house commercial operations under a new for-profit entity.

Whether the move to acquire the Spaniard is a negotiation tactic or simply a big-money signing will be revealed in due time, but it certainly has an effect on the greater ecosystem. An 11-time winner, former world No. 1, valiant Ryder Cup competitor and the current Masters champion, Rahm is among the biggest draws in the game. His decision does just as much to help LIV Golf as it does hurt the PGA Tour.

"This is a huge part of the jigsaw puzzle that you've seen Jon go," Justin Rose told  Sports Illustrated . "And then I don't know who else goes with Jon. I mean, obviously, if it's just Jon, that's bad enough. What does that mean now ... if it's Jon plus a trickle?" 

"We're all trying to evaluate PGA Tour versus LIV in the sense of the fan base and the economics around both tours, but he's the delta. He moves the delta. He weakens one side and strengthens the other. So, it's a big move."

A big move indeed, and a big purchase from the PIF, which has not been shy with its checkbook since the inception of LIV Golf. Rahm's signing will make him the highest paid player in the league with reports of a deal that exceeds $300 million and includes additional equity in his own team. 

This amount is jaw dropping in the golf world and comparable to elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Patrick Mahomes' 10-year deal amounts to $450 million, while Joe Burrow makes an annual salary of $55 million. Rahm is not only in that neighborhood now, he has the best lot as well.

"If anyone offered you 400, 500, 600 million -- I don't know what the number is, but it's somewhere in that ballpark. If someone offered you that much, you'd play on Mars, you know what I mean?" Jason Day said. "So, yeah, I don't think it has anything to do with the PIF and the PGA Tour deal or something." 

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The PGA Tour-LIV deal stunned pro golfers — and upset more than a few

A little over a year after LIV Golf, the Saudi-funded breakaway league, divided the sport’s professional ranks by offering some of the world’s best players outrageous sums to play less frequently, PGA Tour golfers were apparently left stunned Tuesday by the announcement that the entities would merge parts of their operations .

Mackenzie Hughes, a Canadian on the PGA Tour who is ranked 67th in the world, summed up how the news was revealed and the sour feelings among tour players when he tweeted , “Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we said we’d never do that with.”

PGA Tour agrees to partner with Saudi-backed LIV Golf, ending bitter feud

Phil Mickelson, who sacrificed much of his popularity when he left the PGA Tour for a hefty paycheck from LIV, tweeted simply, “An awesome day today.”

The agreement comes after months of hard feelings and back-and-forth litigation between LIV and the PGA Tour. In their announcement, the sides agreed to end “all pending litigation.”

“I think that what’s transpired the last year and a half,” PGA Tour veteran Adam Hadwin said at a news conference Tuesday, “and the rhetoric, not only on this side but on that side as well — I think it’s difficult to look at that and say, ‘How did we get here now?’ ”

The news was announced Tuesday morning as PGA Tour players prepared for this weekend’s Canadian Open in Toronto, where a meeting was held that afternoon between players and Commissioner Jay Monahan, who brokered the deal largely in secret with his Saudi counterparts. Hadwin told TSN beforehand that he anticipated “a lot of screaming and yelling and complaining” at the meeting, and Monahan subsequently described the encounter as “intense, certainly heated.”

Tell me why Jay Monahan basically got a promotion to CEO of all golf in the world by going back on everything he said the past 2 years. The hypocrisy. Wish golf worked like that. I guess money always wins @PGATOUR — Dylan Wu (@dylan_wu59) June 6, 2023

I’m guessing the liv teams were struggling to get sponsors and pga tour couldn’t turn down the money. Win-win for both tours but it’s a big lose for who defended the tour for last two years — Byeong Hun An (@ByeongHunAn) June 6, 2023

“The guys who stayed loyal to the PGA Tour, it’s kind of a kick in the teeth to them,” PGA Tour player Callum Tarren said on Golf Channel . “Obviously Rory [McIlroy] was a huge advocate of the PGA Tour, and now it kind of looks like all his hard work and sticking up for the PGA Tour was left by the wayside.”

What questions do you have about the PGA-LIV partnership? Ask The Post.

Players such as McIlroy surely had plenty to discuss in Toronto, including how the news came to them. “I love finding out morning news on Twitter,” tweeted Collin Morikawa, a two-time major champion. Mark Hubbard tweeted that he was as much in the dark as anyone, writing , “I find out all of my information from text chains and ESPN alerts like the rest of you so stop texting me.”

pic.twitter.com/dndiYfJ12u — Tyrrell Hatton (@TyrrellHatton) June 6, 2023

What’s happening? — David Lingmerth (@dlingmerth) June 6, 2023

The immediate responses were by turns salty, snarky and serious about just how golfers who took massive amounts of money to jump to LIV will return to the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour had banned players who defected to LIV, but the organizations now “will work cooperatively and in good faith to establish a fair and objective process for any players who desire to reapply for membership,” Tuesday’s announcement read.

Common sense has prevailed!!! — Bernd Wiesberger (@BWiesberger) June 6, 2023

I’ve grown up being a fan of the 4 Aces. Maybe one day I get to play for them on the PGA Tour! — Joel Dahmen (@Joel_Dahmen) June 6, 2023

Brooks Koepka, who earned a symbolic victory for LIV when he won the PGA Championship last month , took a poke at Brandel Chamblee, the Golf Channel commentator who recently called out the Saudis for using golf to “sportswash,” a term used to describe creating a distraction from the country’s human rights abuses.

Welfare Check on Chamblee — Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) June 6, 2023

Chamblee appeared on Golf Channel later Tuesday and said he was “completely shocked” by the news. “After the shock sort of ebbed away, I was hugely disappointed,” Chamblee said . “I think this is one of the saddest days in the history of professional golf. I do believe that the governing bodies, the professional entities, have sacrificed their principles for profit.”

LIV star Bryson DeChambeau saw things in a more positive light.

“There’s been too many times where it’s been frustrating, not being able to say certain things,” he said on SiriusXM Radio , “but then all of a sudden we all come together and it’s like, ‘Let’s put down our weapons and figure this out.’ … Could things have been handled differently on both sides? For sure, but we’re now at the point where we’re merging together, and we’re making this for the best interests of the fans and for the game of golf in general.”

Former president Donald Trump , whose Trump National Golf Club hosted a LIV tournament in Northern Virginia last month, praised the agreement on Truth Social, his social media platform. “Great news from LIV golf,” Trump posted. “A big, beautiful and glamorous deal for the wonderful world of golf. Congrats to all!!!”

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) mentioned his recent meeting with PGA Tour officials, tweeting : “So weird. PGA officials were in my office just months ago talking about how the Saudis’ human rights record should disqualify them from having a stake in a major American sport. I guess maybe their concerns weren’t really about human rights?”

Augusta National — host of the Masters, which, like each of the sport’s major tournaments, allowed LIV golfers to participate this year — remained neutral in a statement it released Tuesday afternoon. The Georgia-based club echoed sentiments expressed by the USGA, LPGA and Britain’s R&A that the day’s developments served as an important step toward bringing cohesion to, as the women’s tour put it , a “fractured ecosystem.”

“As we have expressed previously, what makes golf special is its rich history and ability to bring people together,” Augusta National’s statement read. “We are encouraged by this announcement, which represents a positive development in bringing harmony to men’s professional golf. Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament are — and will remain — devoted to developing the game and celebrating its many virtues.”

Spieth: 'The coolest thing is the players are now the owners’

Jordan Spieth prepares for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am this week. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Players at Pebble Beach react to Wednesday’s PGA TOUR Enterprises announcement

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As part of Wednesday’s launch of PGA TOUR Enterprises in a landmark agreement between the PGA TOUR and Strategic Sports Group (SSG), it was announced that TOUR pros can receive equity stakes in the TOUR, both now and in the future.

What does that mean? As the TOUR product grows, so will players’ stake.

The launch lays the groundwork for a more collaborative relationship between the players and TOUR. If enhancements mean the product resonates with more fans, the TOUR business benefits and so do the players.

“I think the coolest thing about it is the players are now owners,” said Jordan Spieth, a Player Director on the PGA TOUR Policy Board. “So not only do they benefit with the TOUR, they now are equity owners so they want to push it themselves, they want to make the product better themselves. Not that they didn't before, but you directly benefit from owning a piece. So I think that part is maybe the coolest part of the funding.”

Nearly 200 PGA TOUR members will have the opportunity to become equity holders in the newly formed PGA TOUR Enterprises, which is also considering participation by future PGA TOUR players that would allow them to benefit from the business’ commercial growth. These equity stakes will be awarded based on career accomplishments, recent achievements, future participation and services and PGA TOUR membership status. Grants are only available to qualified PGA TOUR players.

“To be able to say we own part of our sport is really cool,” Player Director Webb Simpson said Wednesday on Golf Channel. “The PGA TOUR has always been the greatest place to play on the planet. It still is, and we want to show the world – the golf fans, the players, the future players – that the PGA TOUR, long term, is by far the greatest TOUR on the planet.”

“I know everyone is sick of hearing about how much more money golfers are getting,” Max Homa posted on X, formerly Twitter. “My optimism lies in the main point of this which is we now have very savvy and experienced stakeholders who have a lot of incentive to improve the product creatively and make it better for the fans.”

The availability of direct equity stakes for the players made Wednesday a landmark day in both professional golf and professional sports. Player and fan interests will be aligned more than ever, with SSG leadership – established across leagues like the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and English Premier League – positioned to help optimize professional golf for players and fans alike.

“SSG is in this for right reasons,” said Player Director Peter Malnati. “They are true partners, and the alignment and support of our goals is there for the long-term. Today is a day to celebrate. So many people have worked so hard to get us here, and I am incredibly optimistic and energized by what’s to come.”

“To have … 200 years of sports owning experience, the idea they can help navigate in our future how content will be consumed when our next media deals are up, stuff like that, to have these partners in perpetuity, I don't think that can be overlooked,” added Spieth. “You talk about the funding, but really the strategies that they can have in navigating that space will be very important.

“I hope that this starts to turn the corner and recognize that we're in a place where we could be better than we've ever been as a TOUR. It's the premier place to play professional golf, and these partners will help us continue to make it that way and will have some impact while the membership will still have the majority of the impact on what that can look like going forward.”

The transaction allows for a co-investment from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in the future, subject to all necessary regulatory approvals.

Kevin Prise is an associate editor for the PGA TOUR. He is on a lifelong quest to break 80 on a course that exceeds 6,000 yards and to see the Buffalo Bills win a Super Bowl. Follow Kevin Prise on Twitter .

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Pga tour players react to liv waiver denial: ‘if you want to go, go’.

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After the PGA Tour denied player releases to the first event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, Justin Thomas says an individual decision now has to be made.

“It’s like, if you want to go, go,” Thomas said Wednesday at the AT&T Byron Nelson. “There’s been plenty of guys that have been advocates of it and have talked about it all the time, and there’s been guys behind the scenes that are saying, I’m going, I’m doing this . And my whole thing is: Just go then. Stop being back and forth. Everybody’s entitled to do what they want.”

In a surprising move, the PGA Tour told players in a memo Tuesday that it was not authorizing conflicting-event releases for those who wanted to compete in the first LIV Golf Invitational, scheduled for June 9-11 outside London. That tournament conflicts with the Tour’s RBC Canadian Open, the fourth-oldest national open in golf.

Greg Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf, responded harshly to that memo, saying in a statement that the Tour was operating a “illegal monopoly” and engaging in actions that were “anti-golfer, anti-fan and anti-competitive.”

Tour members can still compete in the first LIV event even without a release – but they’d be subjecting themselves to possible discipline from the Tour, which could range from fines to suspensions to bans.

“I would hope it would deter them from going over there,” Thomas said.

Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia were among those who publicly disclosed that they’d asked the Tour for a release, though it’s unknown how they will respond to this latest challenge. Lee Westwood told Golf Channel Wednesday at TPC Craig Ranch that he’d already discussed the matter and didn’t want to comment further.

In a series of interviews Tuesday, Norman said that six of the top 50, 19 of the top 100 and 36 of the top 150 players in the world had registered to play in the first event. It’s unclear how the Tour’s decision will impact the eventual strength of the field; the DP World Tour said Wednesday that it was still reviewing the releases on a case-by-case basis, and LIV officials weren’t planning to release a final field list for two more weeks.

LIV Golf has set a tournament schedule this year for eight events, including five in the U.S., featuring massive purses and 48-man fields. The London tournament has a $25 million prize fund, with $4 million to the winner and $120,000 for the last-place finisher. It will only be available, Norman said, via YouTube.

The second LIV event is July 1-3 in Oregon, and that was assumed to be the sticking point – per Tour guidelines, players cannot be granted releases for other events played in North America. The Tour has simply moved up the timetable for any potential litigation.

“Look, if you want to do it, no one’s stopping you,” Will Zalatoris said. “But what we have here is pretty good too, considering every week we’re playing for a pretty great purse on a pretty great golf course and considering the benefits that we have off the course on top of that, it’s pretty tough to beat.”

Full-field tee times from AT&T Byron Nelson

In the memo, the Tour said that the decision to deny player releases was “in the best interest of the PGA Tour and its players.”

Having previously served on the Tour Policy Board, Jordan Spieth wasn’t surprised by the Tour’s stance. “I don’t think anybody’s really surprised by it, and I believe that they’re likely getting the best legal advice possible to know what the steps are going forward.”

“I thought it was the perfect response from the Tour,” said Zalatoris, a current member of the Tour’s Player Advisory Council. “The Tour is in the best spot it’s ever been, it’s only going to get better, and why would we encourage our players to get releases for those events when essentially we have all these sponsors that are involved with the Tour and are only making it better and better?

“So we’re trying to promote our best product possible, and if you want to be a part of this where it’s getting better and better, then you shouldn’t have it both ways. You have a choice. You really do. You can go if you’d like, but it is what it is.”

No player in the top 10 in the world rankings has expressed an interest in Norman’s startup league, though the Australian reiterated Wednesday that LIV Golf will forge ahead even without any of the game’s top stars signed up to play.

“We believe LIV is here for a long period of time,” he said.

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Schauffele and Scheffler react to LIV Golfers: PGA of America makes huge decision

As confirmed, the PGA of America has allowed LIV golfers to participate in next year's Ryder Cup and the U.S. PGA Championship. This means we can expect to see some well-known names, likely including Bryson DeChambeau , who could be a key asset for the American team from LIV Golf.

 Reactions from golf fans vary widely. Some are open to these changes, believing that the U.S. team needs every individual who can strengthen this team, while others have such a strong aversion to LIV Golf that they would rather see the U.S. team lose than watch a LIV golfer represent them.

In the world of golf, opinions differ even among golfers themselves. Currently, top golfer Scottie Scheffler , in an interview with the Golf Channel, discussed the PGA Tour's decision. The 27-year-old believes it’s tough to give a clear answer regarding this choice. He previously commented on the return of some players to the PGA Tour, suggesting that those who sued the PGA Tour should face consequences for their actions. While he stresses that they have the right to return, he feels their path should not be so easy, emphasizing the importance of loyalty, which some players did not demonstrate when it mattered most.

“That’s definitely a complicated issue that I’m not sitting too far on one side of the fence with that. I think there’s a different level of player that left – you had some guys that left our tour and then sued our tour, that wasn’t really in great taste. And then you had some other guys that just left and they wanted to do something different, and everybody made their decision, and I have no bad blood toward the guys that left. But a path toward coming back, it wouldn’t be a very popular decision, I think, if they just came back like nothing ever happened. They did kind of leave and – they left our tour, that’s just part of it. ADVERTISEMENT There should be a pathway back for them, but they definitely shouldn’t be able to come back without any sort of contribution to the tour.” - he said, as quoted by Golf Channel .

Xander Schauffele reacts to the merger

Xander Schauffele recently shared his thoughts on the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, focusing on the calendar and the number of events we can expect to see. He expressed frustration with the busy schedule and the potential changes, as adding more tournaments could affect his performance in the future. In a media interview, he stressed that after all the discussions and numerous tournaments, he often finds himself reacting strongly and getting frustrated.

Schauffele emphasized that this reaction isn't beneficial for him, as he tends to perform best when he is calm and focused. He mentioned that during this prolonged period of uncertainty, he has found ways to keep himself grounded, with the support of his dogs and his wife. The experienced golfer wants to avoid letting the merger discussions, scheduling issues, or any final agreements distract him. Given his successful season, Schauffele aims to stay positive and not let any outcomes disappoint him in the upcoming period.

“I can feel myself get to the edge quicker, more frustrated quicker. You have to check yourself a lot whenever you’re trying to compete. I know I’m my best when I’m patient and when I’m calm, and if I’m starting to get really frustrated about things that aren’t fair, it doesn’t matter. You’re still trying to win a tournament. That stuff gets pushed to the side. I’ve got my wife and my dogs out here this week, so they’re helping me with my patience bucket filling, I should say. I’m trying my best to fill that bucket up. Whether it’s trying to go to bed an hour earlier or eat dinner an hour earlier, or just trying to chill out a little bit more. I’d like to think chilling out is one of my strengths.”- Schauffele said.

The 30-year-old golfer wants to see golf move in the right direction, emphasizing that it should be what it was meant to be much earlier: a platform where the best players compete against each other. Xander is motivated to achieve great things at the upcoming Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black next year, where he and Scottie Scheffler will likely be key players for the team. Their experience and skills could be crucial, just as they have been in the past.

Both Scheffler and Schauffele seem to share similar views, and it will be interesting to see how the PGA of America's decisions affect their reactions. They believe that loyalty to the tour should be valued, highlighting their commitment to the sport and its traditions.

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Breaking news, pga tour players furious after learning about liv golf merger through twitter.

It seems like nobody told the players of the PGA Tour that they were merging with LIV Golf.

PGA Tour players reacted in shock Tuesday morning on Twitter after the Tour announced it would be merging with rival LIV Golf and the DP World Tour into one company.

“I love finding out morning news on Twitter,” two-time major champion Collin Morikawa wrote on the social media platform.

“You and me both,” Scott Stallings replied to Morikawa.

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf had been embroiled in antitrust litigation after the Saudi-backed rebel league lured some of the sport’s top players to LIV last year with nine-figure contracts.

There’s also been a very public war of words between the two sides, with LIV’s Greg Norman ripping PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Tour players such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, who have spoken out against the controversial circuit.

“Very curious how many people knew this deal was happening,” Michael S. Kim wrote on Twitter. “About 5-7 people? Player run organization right?”

Another PGA player, Wesley Bryan, wrote, “Love finding out info on twitter. This is amazing. Y’all should be ashamed and have a lot of questions to answer.”

Joel Dahmen took a playful shot at the LIV Golf format in reaction to the news.

“I’ve grown up being a fan of the 4 Aces. Maybe one day I get to play for them on the PGA Tour!” he wrote.

On the flip side, the LIV golfers seem to be pleased with the outcome.

“Awesome day today,” Phil Mickelson wrote on Twitter.

Brooks Koepka also wrote , “Welfare check on Chamblee,” referring to Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee, an outspoken critic against LIV Golf.

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