Yahoo Sports PGA-LIV merger LIVE: Rory McIlroy speaks to media and latest golf news and updates
Golf’s ongoing civil war appears to be coming to a surprising end after LIV Golf, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour announced that they have merged.
The shock announcement comes after a year of unprecedented disruption in the men’s professional game following the launch of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit.
Rory McIlroy spoke to the media on Wednesday ahead of the Canadian Open, where he welcomed the news. “Whether you like or not, the PIF are going to keep spending money in golf. At least the PGA Tour now controls how that money is spent. If you’re thinking about one of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world, would you rather have them as a partner or an enemy? At the end of the day, money talks, and you’d rather have them as a partner.”
Follow all the latest updates about the shock merger below:
LIV Golf and PGA Tour announce shock merger - latest updates
‘How many people knew?’ Golfers react to shock merger between PGA Tour and LIV Golf
LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger explained: Everything we know so far
Ex-president Donald Trump gives his reaction to the agreement
Rory McIlroy welcomes the news of PGA Tour merger
DeChambeau has sympathy with PGA players
17:07 , Lawrence Ostlere
Bryson DeChambeau, the former U.S. Open champion who was one of the first big names to sign up for LIV Golf, said he felt “bad” for the players who stayed loyal to the PGA Tour after the bombshell merger was announced on Tuesday.
The sporting world was left stunned when the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and rival Saudi-backed LIV circuit ended their bitter two-year dispute and announced an agreement to merge and form one unified commercial entity.
The shockwaves from the deal look set to reverberate for a good while and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has already faced calls to resign at a meeting with players at the Canadian Open in Toronto.
The most aggrieved players are likely to be those, like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama, who turned down eye-watering sums from LIV Golf to remain loyal to the PGA Tour only to see the tours merge.
“I do feel bad for the PGA Tour players because they were told one thing and something else happened, and our side, we were told one thing and it’s come to fruition,” DeChambeau told CNN.
“It does stink a little bit from my perspective that the PGA Tour players are not necessarily winning. I hope they can find a way to make sure that they are valued in the same way that we are over at LIV.
“I think that’ll happen, it’s just going to take some time ...”
US Senate to investigate PGA Tour merger
16:43 , Lawrence Ostlere
An interesting development as the US Senate finance chairman, Ron Wyden, says he will be “digging into” Saudi Arabia’s involvement in golf.
Top senators outraged over PGA Tour-LIV golf merger.
Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden told us: “I'm certainly going to be digging into this. This looks to me like a cash grab, plain and simple, and it raises very troubling questions, and we'll be digging into it.“— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 7, 2023
And Senator Dick Blumenthal calls on PGA commissioner Jay Monahan to resign. “I think the commissioner has been so discredited that he can hardly present a credible voice for PGA. I think he has really failed not only the fans ... but also the players and now really owes it to them to potentially resign.”
Rory McIlroy welcomes Saudi money in golf: ‘Would you rather have them as a partner or an enemy?’
15:54 , Lawrence Ostlere
Rory McIlroy has welcomed the newly announced merger between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. McIlroy said he was “resigned” to the fact the Saudis are determined to spend money in golf and was relieved that the sport’s civil war is set to end.
Litigation between the parties ended after they resolved to work together under a new, yet-to-be-named entity which will oversee elite golf. The PGA Tour will hold majority control of the sport’s new boardroom while enjoying significant investment from PIF, whose head Yasir Al-Rumayyan will take his place as chairman of the new company.
“Whether you like it or not, the PIF are going to keep spending money in golf,” McIlroy told a packed press conference at the Canadian Open. “I see what’s happened in other sports, I see what’s happened in other businesses. I’ve just resigned myself to it.
“At least the PGA Tour now controls how that money is spent. If you’re thinking about one of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world, would you rather have them as a partner or an enemy? At the end of the day, money talks, and you’d rather have them as a partner.”
Full story:
Rory McIlroy welcomes Saudi investment in PGA Tour: ‘It’s good for golf’
Rory McIlroy on PGA-LIV merger
15:31 , Lawrence Ostlere
So that’s Rory McIlroy’s media duties done. The key lines from his press conference:
Says he has “resigned himself” to the fact that Saudi Arabia will keep spending money in golf. “At least the PGA Tour now controls how that money is spent”
“Would you rather have them as a partner or an enemy? At the end of the day, money talks, and you’d rather have them as a partner”
Reveals he was told the news on Tuesday morning just hours before the PGA’s statement
“Ultimately when I look at the bigger picture, 10 years down the line, it’s going to be good for the game of professional golf. It secures its financial future”
“I still hate LIV! I hate LIV. I hope it goes away and I fully expect that it does”
Rory McIlroy on PGA-LIV merger
15:14 , Lawrence Ostlere
“I still hate LIV! I hate LIV. I hope it goes away and I fully expect that it does. Going forward there may be a team element and you’re going to see whoever else play in some sort of team golf, but I don’t think it will look anything like LIV has looked and I think that’s a good thing.”
Rory McIlroy on PGA-LIV merger
15:12 , Lawrence Ostlere
McIlroy notes that the PGA Tour remains in control of the new entity, whenever it is officially set up (the PGA Tour will have majority control of the new boardroom, with PIF’s Yasir Al-Rumayyan as chairman).
“Whether you like or not, the PIF are going to keep spending money in golf. At least the PGA Tour now controls how that money is spent. If you’re thinking about one of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world, would you rather have them as a partner or an enemy? At the end of the day, money talks, and you’d rather have them as a partner.”
Rory McIlroy on PGA-LIV merger
15:09 , Lawrence Ostlere
“The one thing that was really misconstrued yesterday was that all the headlines were ‘PGA Tour merges with LIV’. LIV has got nothing to do with this. The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund are partnering to create a new company. All I’ve wanted to do is protect the future of the PGA Tour and protect the aspirational nature of the PGA Tour. I hope this does that. But the headlines, that’s not how it’s structured. Technically anyone involved with LIV now must answer to Jay [Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner and CEO of the new entity].”
Rory McIlroy on PGA-LIV merger
15:05 , Lawrence Ostlere
“There’s mixed emotions. I don’t understand all the intricacies. But at least it means the litigation goes away. We can start to work toward some sort of way of unifying the game at the elite level.”
Rory McIlroy on PGA-LIV merger
15:04 , Lawrence Ostlere
McIlroy reveals he was told of the news on Tuesday, just before the PGA’s statement was released. “I learned about it pretty much the same time as everyone else. It was a surprise. I knew there were lines of communication but I didn’t expect it to happen as quickly as it did. But I really think the Tour felt they were in a real position of strength coming off the back of the DP World’s case in London...
“Ultimately when I look at the bigger picture, 10 years down the line, it’s going to be good for the game of professional golf. It secures its financial future.”
Rory McIlroy on PGA-LIV merger
14:59 , Lawrence Ostlere
McIlroy appears to have taken a significant U-turn on the issue. He says: “At the end of the day money talks and you’d rather have them as a partner.” He says that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf merger is “ultimately good for the game of professional golf”.
Rory McIlroy on PGA-LIV merger
14:58 , Lawrence Ostlere
Asked about how the merger effects Ryder Cup & DP World Tour, McIlroy says: “I don’t think it changes… I think it’s a moot point because they resigned their membership. If you’re not a member you can’t play in the Ryder Cup.”
Rory McIlroy on PGA-LIV merger
14:57 , Lawrence Ostlere
Rory McIlroy strikes a defeated tone: “I see what’s happened in other sports, I see what’s happened in other businesses. I’ve just resigned myself to it.”
Here’s Rory McIlroy addressing the media
14:55 , Lawrence Ostlere
Rory McIlroy speaks: “It was heated,” he says on yesterday’s players’ meeting.
Monahan accepts criticism will come his way
14:10 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jay Monahan accepted that he will be labelled a “hypocrite” after the players’ meeting but insisted those who remained loyal to the PGA Tour had made the right decision.
“They have helped re-architect the future of the PGA Tour, they have moved us to a more competitive model,” Monahan said.
“We have significantly invested in our business in 2023, we’re going to do so in ‘24. (But) we’ve had to invest back in our business through our reserves. Between our reserves, the legal fees, our underpin and our commitment to the DP World Tour and their legal fees, it’s been significant.
“But this puts us in a position where we’ve got capital that we can deploy to the benefit of our members and through our tournaments, and it gives us capital to deploy in growth businesses that ultimately will generate a return that we’ll reinvest in our players.”
Asked if the likes of Woods and McIlroy would be compensated for turning down lucrative offers from LIV, or whether those who took massive pay-outs to join the breakaway would have to pay that money back, Monahan said: “I think those are all the serious conversations that we’re going to have.
“Ultimately everything needs to be considered. Ultimately what you’re talking about is an equalisation over time and I think that’s a fair and reasonable concept.”
Saudi sportswashing
13:44 , Lawrence Ostlere
The Future
Saudi Arabia wants to make its Pro League one of the premier domestic leagues in the world and is set to keep adding star names to boost its profile and ability to generate revenue.
But Saudi ambitions extend to the very crown jewels of sport - there have been reports of a Saudi bid alongside Greece and Egypt for the 2030 World Cup and even of hosting an Olympic Games.
Saudi sportswashing
13:22 , Lawrence Ostlere
Snooker
A deal had been done for Riyadh to stage a World Snooker Tour event in October 2020 with a £2.5million prize pot before the Covid-19 pandemic wrecked those plans.
Horse racing
Saudi Arabia has a well-established history in racing, like a lot of Middle Eastern countries.
Prince Khalid Abdullah, until his recent death, owned the likes of Dancing Brave and Frankel and his legacy lives on through the Juddmonte breeding operation.
However, recently the country has taken a far more prevalent role in the sport with the introduction of the Saudi Cup, the richest race in the world at 20m US dollars and that meeting in February is likely to go from strength to strength.
Rory McIlroy and the PGA Tour loyalists have been betrayed – where does golf go from here?
13:21 , Jack Rathborn
A range of emotions will have coursed through Rory McIlroy over the last 24 hours. Shock, confusion and betrayal from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan’s deceitful negotiations with the PIF’s Yasir Al-Rumayyan and the seismic move to “merge” the PGA Tour and its previously bitter rival LIV Golf.
McIlroy let us in week after week during golf’s civil war, he sacrificed his time and tournament preparation and resisted a reported $300 million signing bonus from the Saudis. Now, he’ll wonder, for what? We now know that Monahan used him merely to deflect and absorb scrutiny over his leadership as the sport’s legal squabble rumbled on, perhaps from the PGA Tour’s perspective uncontrollably. A habit of being reactive, rather than proactive, evidently backed the PGA Tour into a corner. And here we are.
Rory McIlroy has been betrayed – where does golf go from here?
Saudi sportswashing
13:04 , Lawrence Ostlere
Football
Saudi financing was believed to be behind plans back in 2018 to expand the FIFA Club World Cup, and while those plans were abandoned, Saudi influence has grown steadily since.
The purchase of an 80 per cent stake in Newcastle in 2021 by the PIF after a protracted takeover remains the most obvious Saudi interest in the sport from a UK perspective, but its ambitions have not stopped there.
There is heavy investment going on to bring some of the world’s top stars to Saudi Arabia. Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January, his former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema completed his move to Al Ittihad on Tuesday and Lionel Messi is in the sights of Al Hilal. All three clubs are to be majority-owned by the PIF - along with Al Ahli - as part of a government probe to privatise ownership in top-level sport.
The PIF has a net value estimated at over £500billion.
Benzema is set to feature for Al Ittihad at December’s Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, a tournament which will feature Manchester City if they beat Inter Milan in Saturday’s Champions League final.
Saudi Arabia is also reported to be providing the financing for a new Super League in Africa.
Saudi sportswashing
12:47 , Lawrence Ostlere
Golf
Tuesday’s announcement concerning the merger of LIV, the PGA and the DP World Tours at commercial level is hugely significant, with some observers saying this was less a merger and more a takeover of the whole sport by Saudi Arabia at the elite level.
The PIF will provide the initial financial backing for the new entity and have the exclusive right to further invest, and a first refusal on any other capital to be invested. The PIF governor Yasir Al Rumayyan - who is also the chairman of Newcastle - will be the new body’s chairman.
Formula One
Reports surfaced earlier this year that the PIF was looking to buy the series, but that its owner Liberty Media was unwilling to sell.
Nevertheless, Saudi company Aramco is one of F1’s top-tier ‘global partner’ sponsors and since 2021 the country has staged a grand prix every season, with the most recent race taking place on March 19 this year.
Boxing
The country has become a venue of choice for promoters in recent years, with British heavyweight Anthony Joshua having fought there in 2019 and 2022.
The Sun reported in April that Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn was in talks over a further trip to Saudi Arabia in December, this time as part of a four-man tournament also featuring Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder.
Why is Saudi Arabia doing all this?
12:28 , Lawrence Ostlere
Critics of the regime say the country, under its de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, are using sport to give the country legitimacy, to effectively ‘sportswash’ its reputation given a long history of human rights abuses in the kingdom.
For its part, Saudi Arabia sees sport as a crucial part of its ‘Vision 2030’ strategy. The country is investing heavily in many sectors as it seeks to diversify its economy away from its finite oil reserves, with sport being one of them.
Investment in sport is aimed, so those who speak for the Saudis say, at encouraging grassroots participation in sport among men and women and at creating a professional elite-level environment for Saudi athletes, national teams and clubs across all sports to thrive.
PGA Tour ‘should be ashamed’ by Saudi golf deal, say 9/11 families
12:14 , Lawrence Ostlere
Leaders of the PGA Tour should be “ashamed of their hypocrisy and greed” in agreeing a deal with Saudi-backed LIV Golf, according to a group representing relatives of victims of 9/11.
After a turbulent year in the sport since the creation of the LIV Golf Tour, backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, a surprise deal was announced on Tuesday to work with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour (the European tour) on commercial matters.
But with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) backing the new, joint venture, 9/11 Families United said it is “shocked and deeply offended” by the move which it says is “bankrolled by billions of sportswashing money”.
A statement from the group said: “Saudi operatives played a role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and now it is bankrolling all of professional golf.”
PGA Tour ‘should be ashamed’ over Saudi golf deal, say 9/11 families
McIlroy ‘involved in angry exchange’ at players’ meeting
11:47 , Lawrence Ostlere
Rory McIlroy was reportedly involved in an angry exchange at a meeting of PGA Tour players as commissioner Jay Monahan attempted to justify the shock declaration of peace in golf’s civil war.
McIlroy and Tiger Woods had established themselves as the biggest supporters of the PGA Tour in its battle with LIV Golf, but were both kept in the dark about the stunning deal announced on Tuesday.
Fellow players reacted with surprise and a sense of betrayal at the news that the PGA Tour and DP World Tour were merging their commercial operations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls LIV Golf.
The announcement came after 12 months of unprecedented disruption in the men’s professional game following the launch of LIV, which held its first event from June 9-11 in 2022 in Hertfordshire.
Monahan faced calls to resign at a 75-minute players’ meeting which he described as “intense and certainly heated”, with his previous comments that anyone who took LIV money would never play on the PGA Tour again cited and greeted with applause, according to former player Johnson Wagner.
Golf Channel reported that Wagner had access to an audio feed of the meeting and that McIlroy told world number 227 Grayson Murray to “just play better” as Murray criticised Monahan.
Murray responded by telling McIlroy to “f*** off”, although another player, Wesley Bryan, later confirmed the exchange on social media before adding: “They were cordial and pleasant post meeting.
“We chatted as a group of players and we were laughing about the comment. No beef or hard feelings either way.”
Rory McIlroy set to speak to media today
11:27 , Lawrence Ostlere
Rory McIlroy was set to address the media on Wednesday for the first time since the shock declaration of peace in golf’s civil war.
McIlroy and Tiger Woods had established themselves as the biggest supporters of the PGA Tour in its battle with LIV Golf, but both were kept in the dark about the stunning deal announced on Tuesday.
Fellow players reacted with surprise and a sense of betrayal at the news that the PGA Tour and DP World Tour were merging their commercial operations with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series.
The announcement came after 12 months of unprecedented disruption in the men’s professional game following the launch of LIV, which held its first event from June 9-11 in 2022 in Hertfordshire.
Defending champion McIlroy was scheduled to give a press conference ahead of the RBC Canadian Open following the pre-tournament pro-am on Wednesday.
Rory McIlroy set to speak out over PGA Tour’s shock merger with LIV Golf
Phil Mickelson celebrates PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger
11:10 , Jack Rathborn
One of the key players in the rise of LIV Golf and an enabler for this eventual merger has been Phil Mickelson.
After a controversial move, Mickelson did not waste any time revelling in the seismic agreement that will change the face of golf forever.
Awesome day today 😊 https://t.co/qUwVJiydym
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) June 6, 2023
Jay Monahan discusses PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger
10:55 , Jack Rathborn
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan lauded “a landmark agreement ... on a global basis” after striking a deal with LIV Golf.
“There’s been a lot of tension in our sport over the last couple years,” Monahan told CNBC. “What we’re talking about today is coming together to unify the game of golf, and to do so under one umbrella.
“We’ve recognized that together, we can have a far greater impact on this game than we can working apart. The game of golf is better for what we’ve done here today.”
Greg Norman reacts to PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger
10:40 , Jack Rathborn
The CEO of LIV Golf, for the time being, has reacted to the news of the Saudi-backed league merging with the PGA Tour.
Greg Norman, who proved divisive with many of the PGA Tour loyalists, was reportedly unaware of the negotiations until moments before the announcement.
A great day in global golf for players and fans alike. The journey continues!!
— Greg Norman (@SharkGregNorman) June 6, 2023
‘How many people knew?’ Golfers react to shock merger between PGA Tour and LIV Golf
10:25 , Jack Rathborn
Golfers have reacted with surprise at the sudden announcement of a merger between the PGA Tour, Europe’s DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s controversial LIV Golf.
The news, announced in a statement on Tuesday, ended the legal wrangling between the parties, and the initial reaction among golfers suggested they were not informed and had no say in the outcome.
“I love finding out morning news on Twitter,” two-time major winner Collin Morikawa tweeted. Fellow American PGA Tour player Michael Kim wrote: “Very curious how many people knew this deal was happening. About 5-7 people? Player run organization right?” Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes tweeted: “Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we said we’d never do that with.”
‘How many people knew?’ Golfers react to shock merger between PGA Tour and LIV Golf
PGA Tour ‘should be ashamed’ over LIV deal, says 9/11 families group
10:10 , Jack Rathborn
Leaders of the PGA Tour should be “ashamed of their hypocrisy and greed” in agreeing a deal with Saudi-backed LIV Golf, according to a group representing relatives of victims of 9/11.
After a turbulent year in the sport since the creation of the LIV Golf Tour, backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, a surprise deal was announced on Tuesday to work with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour (the European tour) on commercial matters.
But with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) backing the new, joint venture, 9/11 Families United said it is “shocked and deeply offended” by the move which it says is “bankrolled by billions of sportswashing money”.
A statement from the group said: “Saudi operatives played a role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and now it is bankrolling all of professional golf.”
Trump celebrates ‘big, beautiful, and glamorous’ LIV Golf PGA merger
09:59 , Jack Rathborn
beautiful, and glamorous” merger between the PGA, LIV Golf, and the DP World Tour.
The former president took to Truth Social on Tuesday as news of the landmark deal broke.
Some of Mr Trump’s branded golf courses have recently hosted LIV Golf events.
In his usual all-capitalised ebullience, he wrote: “Great news from LIV Golf. A big, beautiful, and glamorous deal for the wonderful world of golf.”
He added: “Congrats to all!!!”
LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger: Everything we know so far
09:43 , Jack Rathborn
Tuesday’s surprise news that the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the LIV Golf tour have called an end to legal hostilities and announced a merger has quickly sent shock through the golfing world and beyond.
Having been bitter rivals since the Saudi-backed breakaway tour kicked into life, with huge fees on offer and luring away some of the PGA Tour’s biggest stars, few expected such a dramatic turn of events at this point.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan lauded the “transformational partnership” in a statement to players.
Monahan will be a CEO and Yasir Al-Rumayyan will become the chairman of a newly merged, for-profit entity which doesn’t yet have a name.
Golf has been facing an earthquake of changed outlooks over the past two years or so and now it appears set for even more – here’s everything we know so far.
