LIV Golf vs PGA Tour breakthrough as 'draft agreement signed' ahead of US Open
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have been in talks for months over a merger that would go some distance to reuniting the sport.
A 'draft agreement' has reportedly been signed between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf ahead of the US Open - which suggests a potential merger has moved a step closer.
According to Alan Shipnuck, the biographer of Phil Mickelson, a draft deal over an agreement between PGA Tour Enterprises and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has been signed.
Shipnuck's source of this information is said to be a 'prominent agent' with clients on both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf circuit.
The details of the reported agreement remain unclear for the time being. In June 2023, LIV Golf dramatically agreed to merge with the PGA Tour, providing hope that there was an end to the vast divide in golf.
When LIV Golf launched controversially two years ago, many golfers voiced their opposition as several big-name stars signed up for large sums.
In February, the PGA Tour approved a $3billion investment deal with Strategic Sports Group, offering nearly 200 PGA Tour members the chance to hold equity in PGA Tour Enterprises as a reward for their loyalty and rejection of LIV Golf. This happened while a merger was no closer to being agreed.
However, it appears that the merger will still go ahead. News of a 'draft agreement' being signed follows comments from 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, who described a recent meeting with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan in New York City as 'productive'.
As Woods gears up for the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst this week, he said: "It was productive. And is there light at the end of the tunnel? I think we're closer to that point than we were pre-meeting. We discussed a lot of different endings and how we get there.
Woods also expressed optimism following the talks, saying: "I think that both sides walked away from the meeting, we all felt very positive in that meeting. As I said, both sides were looking at different ways to get to the end game. I think that both sides shared a deep passion for how we need to get there. And yes, there are going to be differences of opinion, but we all want the same thing."
