PGA vs LIV **Updated to discuss merger**

I think a couple of bone saws were rattled around. The PGA boss is a total scum bag. Look at what he said about 9/11 families and LIV just a few months ago. He got FU money and he gets to live.

 

I watched/listened to entirely too much coverage of this today. The real story (if it comes out) should be interesting.
If I’d been a player in that meeting with the commissioner today let’s just say he’d know exactly what I think.

 

The players were not happy (unsurprisingly). Supposedly like 90-10 ratio being pissed about the agreement.

I wonder if there’s a chance they could skuttle the deal? Esp if the commish did it in secret without even having the blessing of the players? When the news first broke I assumed at least a top committee of players must have been on board and aware and the $$$ talked. But it sounds more and more like Monahan did this on his own. Definite POS move.

If it goes through and players see bigger purses, at the end of the day it will smooth out somewhat. But with the immediate blowback you wonder if the players could try to skuttle the deal. I mean guy literally just sold out their non-profit PGA tour entity to a for-profit global entity 100% owned by the Saudi’s. But it wasn’t his to personally sell.

 

Saudi Arabia understands American values, i.e. shameless greed

 

I thought the same. At least the player advisory board members and posted same on the board thread that was locked. I was wrong. How none of the players were aware of this is unbelievable and if I were a PGA player, unforgivable.

 

That's what I was about to say. None of the PGA guys are under contract. They could immediately do the same thing LIV just did and start their own tour. As long as Tiger is involved, even as just the face, it would succeed. That would be hilarious if it happened.

 

Monahan called 'hypocrite' by golfers in meeting

 

I also don't understand this. In Court filings, the Tour describes itself as a membership organization that exists to benefit its members by allowing them to collectively bargain with sponsors, tournament organizers, etc.

How can an organization like that be sold without even telling the members? What's doubly strange is in his messaging to players, Monahan isn't even promising bigger purses. You would think that his first priority would be explaining to the membership how this move helps them. Yet that's not even worth a mention, apparently. Who the heck is this guy responsible to?

 

I’d love to see it, but the PGA tour is a powerful brand. That was why LIV efforts were probably futile long term (or would take literally years and years of the Saudi’s pouring $$$ into just straight up buying players). They were going up against an established brand with established tournaments, established sponsorships, etc. Nobody was watching the joke LIV tournaments.

If the Saudi’s have control over the PGA brand, then the tables would be turned and it would be the other players with the uphill climb going up against the established tour. Unless they can wrestle back that PGA tour branding somehow, or some of the bigger tournaments shift affiliations to your hypothetical new tour.

 

Except for Tiger. Tiger is a bigger brand than the PGA tour. Even as a non-player he'd still be the biggest mover of the needle in anything like this. Sponsors would trip over themselves to get involved in something Tiger is pushing. Nike could probably do it by itself if it wanted.

I don't think this is really going to happen. Theyre going to have to figure out a way to back door compensate the big name guys who stuck around the PGA tour and just got hosed. Otherwise they're going to have some serious issues, imo.

 

Nike has its own history of human rights abuses in Chinese factories.

Not as crazy as being literally owned by the Saudi government, but there would be some obvious hypocrisy from a “Nike tour” on the basis of pushing back against human rights concerns.

 

For sure. Although Saudi is surface level "This is dirty money" whereas Nike is a little bit more of a deep cut. But either way, I'm curious how this all unfolds. It's one of the most interesting sports stories in a long time.

 

Agree on interesting story.

It is too soon for me to evaluate it. I have heard that the PGA Tour was fearful it would lose antitrust status. I also read that the increased money they ponied up this season has put them in a precarious financial position. Who knows what is true? As least the four majors are separate from this organization so they will always exist (and may increase in importance).

 

It has to be a huge issue that threatens the PGA for leadership to go down this path without the knowledge and consent of the players or even key players. So you are probably right. The end result is they went for the safety of financial backing.

 

It seems to me by eliminating it's competition the PGA would open itself up to more anti-trust issues. But I'm no expert.

 

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/...p-pga-tour-of-tax-exemption-after-liv-merger/

Democrat’s bill would strip PGA Tour of tax exemption after LIV merger

 

seems like you’re right. No one at the PGA had the guts to tell Bonesaws er MbS
The Scandalous PGA Tour-LIV Golf Deal Will Likely Never Happen, Expert Argues