PGA Tour, LIV Golf and DP World Tour agree to make shock merger

LIV Golf rebels have a route back towards the traditional tours and the Ryder Cup from next season after the PGA and DP World Tours joined forces with the Saudi Arabian-backed enterprise in one of the most extraordinary truces in sporting history.

The shock announcement, delivered on Tuesday, will see the Saudi public investment fund pour money in a new company that will effectively control top-level golf. Ongoing litigation between LIV and the PGA Tour – for so long sworn enemies – has come to an abrupt and shocking end.

“The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund today announced a landmark agreement to unify the game of golf, on a global basis,” read a statement. “The parties have signed an agreement that combines PIF’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights [including LIV Golf] with the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour into a new, collectively owned, for-profit entity to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from a model that delivers maximum excitement and competition among the game’s best players.”

LIV’s poaching of players – including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and the Open champion Cameron Smith - for tens of millions of dollars from the PGA and DP World Tours throughout 2022 saw those golfers ostracised from their previous playing domain. That is about to change. “The three organisations will work cooperatively and in good faith to establish a fair and objective process for any players who desire to re-apply for membership with the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour following the completion of the 2023 season and for determining fair criteria and terms of re-admission, consistent with each tour’s policies,” added the statement.

Given all that has transpired,