The creation of LIV Golf hasn’t just failed to weaken the PGA Tour – it might have actually helped strengthen it. But even as the tour continues to grow, a merger with LIV Golf still feels a long way off.
Back in 2023, the three tours took an important step towards unity when they agreed to merge their commercial interests into a single, for-profit company. It looked like real progress at the time.
But two years on, there’s still no formal agreement in place. Issues like player contracts and media rights remain unresolved, and ongoing discussions haven’t brought about any clear answers.
Brandel Chamblee spoke to someone involved in that initial meeting between the two sides, and explained why he doesn’t see a merger ever coming together.
LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger looking unlikely, Brandel Chamblee explains
When the merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour was first announced, there was a feeling that a resolution to their long-running dispute wasn’t far off. The expectation was that there were still some details to work through, but both sides wanted it done.
But after speaking with someone who attended the meeting, Chamblee feels that the real aim of the announcement was simply to put an end to the discovery phase of ongoing legal battles between the two organisations.
According to Chamblee, who discussed it on Straight Facts Homie, he said: “I don’t believe that this proposed alliance between LIV and the PGA Tour was ever serious.”
“I think all that was to end the litigation and to end discovery. I talked to somebody who was in that room. There weren’t very many people in that room, but I did talk to somebody who was absolutely in that room shortly after that proposed deal.”
“And he told me there will never be a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV. And then he said sort of matter-of-factly, ‘You know, they’re bad. They’re bad guys. They’re bad guys.’ And I was like, ‘Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe you don’t want to be in business with them.’”
For those hoping Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm will return soon aren’t likely any time soon — not after last season’s strong showing by the PGA Tour.
Are any LIV golfers waiting for a way back into the PGA Tour?
Back in 2024, Steve Stricker said he was aware of several LIV players who were looking for a way back to the PGA Tour.
“I know the guys, some of them on the LIV tour, want to come back and play out on the regular Tour. I know that for a fact,” he said. “And so it’s kind of a wait-and-see game, especially for us out here.”
DeChambeau wasn’t allowed to take part in the Procore Championship with his Ryder Cup teammates and made his feelings known about it. He clearly wants more flexibility to pick and choose events.
READ MORE: Colt Knost says PGA Tour should end Presidents Cup to fix Team USA’s Ryder Cup struggles
He’s unlikely to be alone in that view, but there’s still plenty of uncertainty around how the PGA Tour would handle potential returns from LIV players. The league hasn’t struggled without them so far, so any path back might come with strict conditions or suspensions.
Three years on from LIV’s debut, there still isn’t much clarity over where golf is headed next.
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