Blindsided PGA Tour players want answers over merger with LIV Golf

TORONTO : PGA Tour players were blindsided by news of a merger with the rebel Saudi-backed LIV Golf on Tuesday that left them, fans and politicians demanding answers.

A bitter feud that had divided the sport for almost two years ended without warning when the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf announced a shock agreement to merge and form one unified commercial entity.

The bombshell announcement prompted golfers at the Canadian Open to call a players' meeting on Tuesday to get details of a deal that many only learned about on Twitter or a later email.

"I’m guessing the liv teams were struggling to get sponsors and pga tour couldn’t turn down the money. Win-win for both tours but it’s a big lose for who defended the tour for last two years," tweeted South Korean An Byeong-hun.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is scheduled to attend the meeting and can expect to be grilled for an explanation, particularly from players who remained loyal to the Tour, in some cases rejecting millions of dollars to join the Saudi venture.

Rickie Fowler, Will Zalatoris and Hideki Matsuyama were all reported to have been offered over $100 million to jump to LIV Golf until Monahan pleaded with them to stick with the PGA Tour.

"I think one of the big things will be moving forward is how are players re-integrated back into the system," said Canada's Adam Hadwin. "If they are. We don't even know if they will be.

"I mean, so that being one of the big talking points throughout this year and a half from the commissioner about how these guys will never play on the PGA Tour again, it will be interesting."

Almost exactly a year ago Monahan came to Canada declaring war with LIV Golf, saying players jumping to the breakaway league would be banned from the