Greg Norman welcomes PGA Tour and PIF merger - but LIV Golf's future remains uncertain
- Michael Schmitt
- 8 June 2023
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman seems confident in the future of the breakaway tour, but others seem far less certain.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has reportedly told his staff that the breakaway circuit is "not going anywhere" following the news of a merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).
On Tuesday, the three parties revealed plans to establish a new for-profit entity, with the PIF holding a minority equity ownership share. The PIF governor, Yasir Al Rumayyan, would chair the entity, with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan serving as the CEO.
What remains unclear, however, is precisely what that means for the three tours involved.
When asked in a press conference about the future of LIV Golf, Monahan said he didn't foresee a scenario where it would continue, considering the potential conflicts of interest for PIF as an investor in the PGA Tour and a primary supporter of a rival tour.
"I can't see that scenario," he said. "But I haven't gotten the full evaluation, the full empirical evaluation of LIV that I'm going to do to be able to comment on that.
"But I don't see that scenario, no.
"To me, any scenarios that you're thinking about that bridge between the PGA Tour and LIV would be longer term in nature."
Meanwhile, reports claim LIV Golf chief Norman was only informed of this new partnership moments before Al Rumayyan and Monahan appeared in a television interview with CNBC to confirm deal.
Publickly, Norman welcomed news of the merger on Tuesday, tweeting that it was a "great day in global golf for players and fans alike".
A great day in global golf for players and fans alike. The journey continues!!
— Greg Norman (@SharkGregNorman) June 6, 2023
And, according to Sports Illustrated, he expressed his confidence in the future of LIV Golf during a 30-minute call with approximately 100 staff members on Wednesday.
"The spigot is now wide open for commercial sponsorships, blue-chip companies, TV networks," Norman reportedly said.
"LIV is and will continue to be a standalone enterprise. Our business model will not change. We changed history and we're not going anywhere."
