What has become apparent in the hours since LIV Golf and the PGA Tour agreed to merge is that not everyone is a winner.
Despite commissioner Jay Monahan proclaiming Tuesday, 6 June, as a "historic day for the game" and the end of "two years of disruption and distraction" for golf, not many of his members seem to agree. Monahan is all set for a spot on the board of directors of the new joint venture as chief executive, plus a place on the executive committee.
However, he is under intense pressure from players about his PGA future. Whether he remains a winner or becomes a loser will become apparent in the weeks and months to come.
There are, though, some more clearcut candidates that already fall into one of those two camps. Mirror Sport has highlighted one pair of winners and losers from the first 24 hours since the LIV / PGA merger.
Winners
LIV rebels
Those that accepted the riches on offer from LIV Golf are laughing, some very literally so, as their social media activity on Tuesday suggested. After being suspended indefinitely by the PGA, the likes of Brooks Koepka and Phil Mickelson can now re-apply for their membership at the end of the current season. The only catch could be the claims they would have to pay back their LIV signing-on fees, a notion Monahan refused to rule out.
Schedule critics
James Hahn, in particular, has taken umbrage with the PGA Tour scheduling over the last 12 months, complaining about relentless travelling during the calendar and the expense it incurs to the player. However, following the LIV/PGA merger, the schedule will presumably settle between the two. Some have called out the sparseness of the LIV programme throughout the year, so it seems there is a middle ground out there.
Losers
Greg Norman
In a very literal sense, the LIV Golf CEO seems set to lose his title because of the merger. Norman, who only found out about the move moments before the rest of the world, did not feature in the lengthy statement announcing the agreement in principle. Uncertainty about his future has only increased in the aftermath, as reports suggest he has already been sidelined in recent weeks and is not likely to be a part of the new joint venture.
LIV critics
"It's hard not to feel like I was a sacrificial lamb." That is how Rory McIlroy described it when addressing the assembled media at the Canadian Open. The Northern Irishman has been an ardent critic of LIV and remains so even following the merger. Tiger Woods, too, was vocal in his admonishment of those that decided to change tours in 2022, as were Justins Rose and Thomas. After sticking by the PGA Tour and turning down lucrative paydays in favour of loyalty, those left standing have lost the most from the whole debacle.
