AUGUSTA, Ga. — Add Tom Watson to the list of people in the golf world who think reunification isn’t on the table right now.
The eight-time major champion, speaking after he participated in the ceremonial tee shot to officially open the 89th Masters on Thursday morning at Augusta National Golf Club, thinks things are simply too complicated right now for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to come back together.
Advertisement
“I don’t see a real working mechanism for the two tours to get back together,” Watson said. “I think that’s one of the reasons you haven’t seen an agreement … since June two years ago.”
The PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which backs LIV Golf, have been in negotiations for a partnership since Tour commissioner Jay Monahan made his surprise announcement nearly two full years ago now. While there have been moments where it’s felt close, especially after a pair of meetings at the White House with President Donald Trump, the two sides appear to be a long way from finalizing their deal.
The Tour reportedly turned down a $1.5 billion offer from the PIF earlier this month, too. Specifics of that offer aren’t known, though the PIF reportedly wants its governor to serve as a co-chairman of the PGA Tour Enterprises’ board and wants team golf to stay part of the sport, among other things.
There are 12 LIV Golf members in the field this week at the Masters, which is the fewest number of players from that circuit since it first started. More than half of them have a lifetime exemption, too. The tournament is just one of four this year where the golf world is back in one place.
Advertisement
One of those with a lifetime exemption is Jon Rahm, who when asked about reunification on Tuesday, said this: “As I can tell and you guys can tell, it’s not happening anytime soon.”
While Watson acknowledged that just about everyone involved wants reunification to happen — including top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, who apparently said he was thrilled everyone was back together during the champions dinner on Tuesday night — he thinks it’s just too far off.
“It’s really up to the powers that be to see if there’s a framework in which the two tours can cooperate,” Watson said. “I don’t see that framework happening.”
LIV Golf is currently in its fourth season, and it feels a bit like the league is on the ropes. Less than 500,000 people tuned in to Fox to watch last weeks’ tournament in South Florida, which marked the first time the league has been shown on a major American network. By comparison, the PGA Tour’s Valero Texas Open drew more than 1.7 million viewers despite not having most of its stars competing.
Both Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson participated in the ceremonial tee shot to open the Masters on Thursday morning. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Erick W. Rasco via Getty Images)
If the two leagues are going to finally strike a deal, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen in the near future. And, at least in the eyes of Jack Nicklaus, the Tour doesn’t necessarily need LIV Golf anymore.
Advertisement
“I think the LIV pushed the PGA Tour into doing some things that were a little premature for the PGA Tour. But the PGA Tour is doing fine,” Nicklaus said. “I think they’ve changed their structure. The players now own a piece of what’s going on. I think their plan of bringing along with their elevated events and their plan of bringing young players along in the other tournaments has been very successful. We’re making new stars for the game.
“Would I love to see them all come together? Sure, I think we all would. But I think the PGA Tour is the tour, and that’s where most of your good players are, and I think it’s very healthy no matter which way it goes, but obviously we’d all like to see everybody together.”
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Steph Curry heats up with Jimmy Butler out, Warriors take 2-1 lead over Rockets
<!--> Stephen Curry eventually found his shooting groove while Houston tried everything to stop him, finishing with 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Rockets 104-93 on Saturday night without Jimmy Butler for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.Playoff Steph delivered while Playoff Jimmy became his biggest cheerleader on the bench — in a full-length fur coat.Buddy Hield had 17 points off the bench with five 3-pointers as the Warriors won their sixth straight Game 3 in the opening round. Gary Payton II scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.ADVERTISEMENT -->Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Monday night at Chase Center. The biggest question will be whether Butler can heal in time to contribute.The Warriors missed their do-everything forward after he suffered a pelvic injury and […]
Brasileiro feminino: Expansão do campeonato nos próximos anos pode impactar qualidade na elite
Em 2027, o futebol feminino estará em destaque no Brasil. Além de sediar a Copa do Mundo, o país terá a primeira edição do Brasileirão A1 com 20 clubes, quatro a mais do que atualmente. O anúncio da expansão do campeonato, feito em janeiro, levanta a dúvida: a infraestrutura e a qualidade técnica dos times vão acompanhar esse crescimento? Nas seis primeiras rodadas da edição em disputa, foram marcados 158 gols, média de 3,3 por partida — no Brasileiro masculino, por exemplo, a média no mesmo período é de 2,3. O número expõe o abismo entre as equipes que brigam pelo título e aquelas que lutam contra o rebaixamento: já são seis jogos, 10% do total, com vitórias por quatro ou mais gols de diferença. Mas a frequência de goleadas vem diminuindo: caiu de 22,5% em 2019 para 12,5% em […]
In winning time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was at his best in Thunder’s sweep of Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Before breaking through in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s series-clinching 117-115 Game 4 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had scored 73 points on 68 shots in the first three contests. His 35 percent shooting ranked last among 10 Thunder players who had appeared in every game — not exactly a stat anyone would have predicted entering the series.AdvertisementBut in winning time Saturday, the Thunder star and MVP finalist was at his best.Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 38 points to lead the Thunder to a series sweep and a second-round date with the winner between the LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets. Whichever team emerges will have to contend with a well-rested Thunder squad whose best player might have just hit his stride.It’s not that Gilgeous-Alexander, or anyone with the Thunder, ever worried about his uncharacteristic inefficiency. But what […]
Grizzlies must consider Ja Morant’s future and everything else after sweep
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — During his six-year tenure as general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Kleiman has usually gone out of his way to avoid the spotlight.Despite being the architect of a team that’s won at least 48 games in three of the last four seasons, few NBA fans could identify his face in a lineup. He’s likely happy with that.AdvertisementHe went against his usual tendencies earlier this season when he released a public statement that made waves throughout the league. Though his intent was to quiet the noise in Memphis, Kleiman may have unknowingly given an early glimpse into the unease behind the scenes that led to the Grizzlies’ shocking late-season collapse and yet another early exit from the playoffs.All of this culminated in Memphis falling short again in a 117-115 loss in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City […]
LIV Golf Mexico City: Ripper GC pulls ahead of Crushers GC after Round 2
<!--> MEXICO CITY – Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau is arguably golf's biggest hitter. Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith is arguably the sport's best putter. On Sunday at LIV Golf Mexico City, they'll face off for the first time in the final group of a LIV Golf final round.DeChambeau, thanks to a birdie at the par-3 18th Saturday, grabbed a one-shot lead over Smith. Both shot matching 5-under 66s while playing together during Saturday's second round, a precursor to what promises to be a dramatic and entertaining finish at Club de Golf Chapultepec.And if that wasn't enough, the third member of the final threesome is Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann, the current season-long points leader. Niemann is three shots off the lead and tied for the low round of the day Saturday with a 7-under 64.ADVERTISEMENT -->"Hopefully Bryson and I […]
Arkansas NIL collective calls on prominent lawyer to enforce Madden Iamaleava buyout clause amid transfer
247Sports FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas' name, image and likeness collective has hired an attorney to pursue and enforce a buyout clause in former quarterback Madden Iamaleava's agreement, CBS Sports has learned.In an unprecedented move in the NIL era of college sports, the parent company overseeing the Arkansas Edge collective has hired noted sports attorney Tom Mars to enforce buyout provisions in NIL contracts at Arkansas, Blueprint Sports CEO Rob Sine confirmed Saturday to CBS Sports. The collective is following the orders of Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek, who directed the collective to pursue buyout money in contracts broken by players in an insistent statement released Tuesday, just two hours after Iamaleava entered the transfer portal.The two former Arkansas players targeted in the initial legal efforts are Iamaleava and former receiver Dazmin James, sources told CBS Sports. A meeting between Iamaleava's […]
Related
Steph Curry heats up with Jimmy Butler out, Warriors take 2-1 lead over Rockets
<!--> Stephen Curry eventually found his shooting groove while Houston tried everything to stop him, finishing with 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Rockets 104-93 on Saturday night without Jimmy Butler for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.Playoff Steph delivered while Playoff Jimmy became his biggest cheerleader on the bench — in a full-length fur coat.Buddy Hield had 17 points off the bench with five 3-pointers as the Warriors won their sixth straight Game 3 in the opening round. Gary Payton II scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.ADVERTISEMENT -->Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Monday night at Chase Center. The biggest question will be whether Butler can heal in time to contribute.The Warriors missed their do-everything forward after he suffered a pelvic injury and […]
Brasileiro feminino: Expansão do campeonato nos próximos anos pode impactar qualidade na elite
Em 2027, o futebol feminino estará em destaque no Brasil. Além de sediar a Copa do Mundo, o país terá a primeira edição do Brasileirão A1 com 20 clubes, quatro a mais do que atualmente. O anúncio da expansão do campeonato, feito em janeiro, levanta a dúvida: a infraestrutura e a qualidade técnica dos times vão acompanhar esse crescimento? Nas seis primeiras rodadas da edição em disputa, foram marcados 158 gols, média de 3,3 por partida — no Brasileiro masculino, por exemplo, a média no mesmo período é de 2,3. O número expõe o abismo entre as equipes que brigam pelo título e aquelas que lutam contra o rebaixamento: já são seis jogos, 10% do total, com vitórias por quatro ou mais gols de diferença. Mas a frequência de goleadas vem diminuindo: caiu de 22,5% em 2019 para 12,5% em […]
In winning time, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was at his best in Thunder’s sweep of Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Before breaking through in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s series-clinching 117-115 Game 4 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had scored 73 points on 68 shots in the first three contests. His 35 percent shooting ranked last among 10 Thunder players who had appeared in every game — not exactly a stat anyone would have predicted entering the series.AdvertisementBut in winning time Saturday, the Thunder star and MVP finalist was at his best.Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 38 points to lead the Thunder to a series sweep and a second-round date with the winner between the LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets. Whichever team emerges will have to contend with a well-rested Thunder squad whose best player might have just hit his stride.It’s not that Gilgeous-Alexander, or anyone with the Thunder, ever worried about his uncharacteristic inefficiency. But what […]
Grizzlies must consider Ja Morant’s future and everything else after sweep
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — During his six-year tenure as general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Kleiman has usually gone out of his way to avoid the spotlight.Despite being the architect of a team that’s won at least 48 games in three of the last four seasons, few NBA fans could identify his face in a lineup. He’s likely happy with that.AdvertisementHe went against his usual tendencies earlier this season when he released a public statement that made waves throughout the league. Though his intent was to quiet the noise in Memphis, Kleiman may have unknowingly given an early glimpse into the unease behind the scenes that led to the Grizzlies’ shocking late-season collapse and yet another early exit from the playoffs.All of this culminated in Memphis falling short again in a 117-115 loss in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City […]
LIV Golf Mexico City: Ripper GC pulls ahead of Crushers GC after Round 2
<!--> MEXICO CITY – Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau is arguably golf's biggest hitter. Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith is arguably the sport's best putter. On Sunday at LIV Golf Mexico City, they'll face off for the first time in the final group of a LIV Golf final round.DeChambeau, thanks to a birdie at the par-3 18th Saturday, grabbed a one-shot lead over Smith. Both shot matching 5-under 66s while playing together during Saturday's second round, a precursor to what promises to be a dramatic and entertaining finish at Club de Golf Chapultepec.And if that wasn't enough, the third member of the final threesome is Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann, the current season-long points leader. Niemann is three shots off the lead and tied for the low round of the day Saturday with a 7-under 64.ADVERTISEMENT -->"Hopefully Bryson and I […]
Arkansas NIL collective calls on prominent lawyer to enforce Madden Iamaleava buyout clause amid transfer
247Sports FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas' name, image and likeness collective has hired an attorney to pursue and enforce a buyout clause in former quarterback Madden Iamaleava's agreement, CBS Sports has learned.In an unprecedented move in the NIL era of college sports, the parent company overseeing the Arkansas Edge collective has hired noted sports attorney Tom Mars to enforce buyout provisions in NIL contracts at Arkansas, Blueprint Sports CEO Rob Sine confirmed Saturday to CBS Sports. The collective is following the orders of Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek, who directed the collective to pursue buyout money in contracts broken by players in an insistent statement released Tuesday, just two hours after Iamaleava entered the transfer portal.The two former Arkansas players targeted in the initial legal efforts are Iamaleava and former receiver Dazmin James, sources told CBS Sports. A meeting between Iamaleava's […]
Be the first to leave a comment