Ian Poulter has suggested that LIV rebels have come out on top after the groundbreaking deal that will see the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf work under one entity.
The three tours had been at war for 12 months prior to the agreement, but their differences appear to have been settled with the help of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF). The agreement came as a shock to most, with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour proving to be LIV and PIF's biggest critics over the past year.
Details on what is to come for professional golf remain vague, but one man who is looking forward to a future in unison is Majesticks GC co-captain Poulter. And amid his excitement, the English star could not resist a smug comment towards critics, suggesting that players who left the PGA Tour will not be the ones needing to backtrack.
Poulter told the Telegraph: "I am looking forward to all the servings of humble pie and it will not be us LIV guys doing the backtracking."
Poulter's comments come following question marks as to what comes next for the breakaway league, with a single entity, NewCo, set to undertake a 'empirical data-driven evaluation' to decide what is best for LIV Golf moving forward. Despite the concerns, those playing on the breakaway series are confident LIV is here to stay.
"If I was PIF, for example, and I create this baby and that baby becomes an adult and a success, why would I get rid of it? I don’t understand," added Cleeks GC man Martin Kaymer. "This is just my common thinking with the knowledge I have.
"I don’t know what the plan is, but I have difficulties believing LIV will go away in the next few years. I just don’t see any reason why it should."
One man who is also feeling positive on the back of the proposed merger, is LIV Golf poster boy Phil Mickelson. Mickelson has never been far from the saga surrounding the PGA Tour and LIV, but surprisingly opted to swerve discussion at this month's US Open.
Two weeks on though, he has finally broken his silence. "I would say I felt appreciation that we got to this point where we're working together because it makes me confident with where the game of golf is headed in the future," he said.
"We felt like it was going to be about two years roughly before we got to that point. It took a year and a half or six months quicker than I thought it would be. Going forward, we're all very optimistic about where the game of golf, professional golf specifically, is headed.
"Also, a lot of the changes that have been made because of LIV were all very [appreciated], both on the LIV Tour as well as the PGA Tour, and we're happy for the guys out there that they're having some positive changes there, as well."
