The PGA Tour and rival LIV Golf have announced a shock agreement to merge in a huge deal announced on Tuesday afternoon.
The two entities have signed an agreement in principle and their rights to a new, unnamed and unconfirmed company. The deal will see the end of the feud between the two circuits, with LIV golfers being roundly criticised for leaving the PGA tour and joining LIV - where they were given huge contracts.
The deal is set to end all pending litigation, after being embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit with the PGA. LIV golfers such as Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau have been roundly criticised for joining the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund entity.
Mickelson has already tweeted after the deal was made public. He wrote: "Awesome day today." Donald Trump, who's course has held a number of LIV events, wrote on social media: "Great news from LIV Golf. A big beautiful and glamorous deal for the wonderful world of golf. Congrats to all!!!".
The news has rocked the world of golf, after both the PGA Tour and LIV had been involved in a bitter feud over the last 12 months. Tour boss Jay Monahan had been when of the breakaway league's biggest critics, but the commissioner is seemingly keen to now work alongside his rivals.
In a statement Monahan said: "After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love." Monahan also confirmed that the team aspect that has become synonymous with LIV Golf will be adopted in the new merger.
"This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA TOUR’s history, legacy and pro-competitive model and combines with it the DP World Tour and LIV – including the team golf concept – to create an organization that will benefit golf’s players, commercial and charitable partners and fans.
"Going forward, fans can be confident that we will, collectively, deliver on the promise we’ve always made – to promote competition of the best in professional golf and that we are committed to securing and driving the game’s future."
The deal will of course also see the DP World Tour join the merger, just a month after four of its biggest names in Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia were forced to resign their memberships due to their LIV Golf links. It now remains to be seen as to whether they will still remain ineligible for the Ryder Cup.
