Death Pool Update: PGA - LIV Feud

[Cruzer 1,995]

Just breaking, details not fully laid out - but looks like the war is over.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/06/06/pga-tour-agrees-to-merge-with-saudi-backed-rival-liv-golf.html

[wiffleball 4,788]

There's a couple guys who faced multi multi multi-million dollar fines for betraying l i v. I wonder if all that just flew out the window.

[edjr 6,578]

WHA WHA WHA WHAT?

SO now certain guys got 100 million and get to play on pga?

HA HA HA fock you Rory, 

[Cruzer 1,995]

5 minutes ago, wiffleball said:

There's a couple guys who faced multi multi multi-million dollar fines for betraying l i v. I wonder if all that just flew out the window.

 Sort of, but only for those wishing to still play on the DP Tour. Those not going back at all, the fines were meaningless. 

[edjr 6,578]

NEW YORK; RIYADH; PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida, June 6, 2023 – The PGA TOUR, DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) today announced a landmark agreement to unify the game of golf, on a global basis. 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.

In addition, PIF will make a capital investment into the new entity to facilitate its growth and success. The new entity (name TBD) will implement a plan to grow these combined commercial businesses, drive greater fan engagement and accelerate growth initiatives already underway. With LIV Golf in the midst of its second, groundbreaking season, the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour and PIF will work together to best feature and grow team golf going forward.

Notably, today’s announcement will be followed by a mutually agreed end to all pending litigation between the participating parties. Further, the three organizations 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.

“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA TOUR’s history, legacy and pro-competitive model and combines with it the DP World Tour and LIV – including the team golf concept – to create an organization that will benefit golf’s players, commercial and charitable partners and fans. Going forward, fans can be confident that we will, collectively, deliver on the promise we’ve always made – to promote competition of the best in professional golf and that we are committed to securing and driving the game’s future.

“We are pleased to move forward, in step with LIV and PIF’s world-class investing experience, and I applaud PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan for his vision and collaborative and forward-thinking approach that is not just a solution to the rift in our game, but also a commitment to taking it to new heights. This will engender a new era in global golf, for the better.”

“Today is a very exciting day for this special game and the people it touches around the world,” said PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. “We are proud to partner with the PGA TOUR to leverage PIF’s unparalleled success and track record of unlocking value and bringing innovation and global best practices to business and sectors worldwide. We are committed to unifying, promoting and growing the game of golf around the world and offering the highest-quality product to the many millions of long-time fans globally, while cultivating new fans.

“There is no question that the LIV model has been positively transformative for golf. We believe there are opportunities for the game to evolve while also maintaining its storied history and tradition. This partnership represents the best opportunity to extend and increase the impact of golf for all. We look forward to collaborating with Jay and Keith to bring the best version of the game to communities around the world.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the Board of Directors of the new entity will oversee and direct all the new entity’s golf-related commercial operations, businesses and investments. The new entity will work to ensure a cohesive schedule of events that will be exciting for fans, sponsors and all stakeholders. PIF will initially be the exclusive investor in the new entity, alongside the PGA TOUR, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour. Going forward, PIF will have the exclusive right to further invest in the new entity, including a right of first refusal on any capital that may be invested in the new entity, including into the PGA TOUR, LIV Golf and DP World Tour. The PGA TOUR will appoint a majority of the Board and hold a majority voting interest in the combined entity.

Separately, PGA TOUR Inc. will remain in place as a 501(c)(6) tax exempt organization and retains administrative oversight of events for those assets contributed by the PGA TOUR, including the sanctioning of events, the administration of the competition and rules, as well as all other “inside the ropes” responsibilities, with Jay Monahan as Commissioner and Ed Herlihy as PGA TOUR Policy Board Chairman. PIF’s Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan will join the PGA TOUR Policy Board. The DP World Tour and LIV Golf will retain similar administrative oversight of events on their respective Tours.

The Board of Directors of the new commercial entity will include Al-Rumayyan as Chairman and Monahan as Chief Executive Officer; the new entity’s Board will also include an Executive Committee comprising Al-Rumayyan, Monahan, Herlihy and PGA TOUR Policy Board member Jimmy Dunne. The full Board will be announced at a later date, and it is anticipated that all three founding members will have representation.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the DP World Tour, said “This is a momentous day. We are delighted to be able to not only reignite our relationship with PIF, but also to have the opportunity to build on our current Strategic Alliance partnership with the PGA TOUR. Together we will be stronger than ever and well positioned to continue to bring the game to all corners of the globe. To partner in this new entity and influence the growth of the game for all our DP World Tour members is energizing and exciting.”

All parties will work in the months to come to finalize terms of the agreement, with details to be announced in due course.

[Cruzer 1,995]

3 minutes ago, edjr said:

WHA WHA WHA WHAT?

SO now certain guys got 100 million and get to play on pga?

HA HA HA fock you Rory, 

Jay-boy caved, got totally bent over. Not only is there a path for LIV guys to come back, but they will so with a ton of $$$ in the bank too. 

[patweisers44 815]

Maybe Rory can concentrate on his golf game again and be a factor.

[edjr 6,578]

5 minutes ago, Cruzer said:

Jay-boy caved, got totally bent over. Not only is there a path for LIV guys to come back, but they will so with a ton of $$$ in the bank too. 

I mean, not like Rory needs the money or Tiger. but at them.  

Maybe Charlie can sign with LIV now?

[thegeneral 2,910]

4 minutes ago, Cruzer said:

Jay-boy caved, got totally bent over. Not only is there a path for LIV guys to come back, but they will so with a ton of $$$ in the bank too. 

LIV Tour players walking into the clubhouse

[Cruzer 1,995]

Think Greg Norman has stopped laughing yet? 

[Reality 3,097]

Holy Shlt, Phil with the massive dub.

Imagine the dudes not named Tiger that passed on the $$. Gonna be a rough few nights.

[Fireballer 2,639]

Can’t wait the see Chamblees take at some point today

[Reality 3,097]

If this is actually true... Holy Fock...

 

[WhiteWonder 2,675]

Thought I had this bookmarked. Guess not. Either way. 
 

Phil finally reveals the truth about the Saudi Golf League. And speaks about how this is the first time professionals have a chance to change the way PGA Tour operates. He said, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates. They’ve been able to get by with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no recourse.”

He added, “As nice a guy as [PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan] comes across as, unless you have leverage, he won’t do what’s right. And the Saudi money has finally given us that leverage. I’m not sure I even want [the SGL] to succeed, but just the idea of it is allowing us to get things done with the [PGA] Tour.

 

 

[Fireballer 2,639]

I’ve been watching TGC since this broke.  To say they are flummoxed is an understatement. 

[supermike80 1,804]

Ok..thats a big wow.   

[WhiteWonder 2,675]

I have routinely had debates with my father since LIV began. Our last debate was after Brooks won the PGA, because he had previously stated that LIV guys play 3 rounds, no cuts, wear shorts etc they won't hold up..... He always takes the stance of why should these guys be allowed to take all that money and still play PGA events, they shouldn't get world ranking points because they made their choice etc, etc.

Knowing im a Phil fanboy he likes to needle me with "Phil just needed to pay off his gambling debt."  I admit, that is probably true, but I always point out that Phil said it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the way the PGA tour operated and how he was 100% correct. I've been saying it since before the first 2022 LIV event. Look at all the reactionary changes that were made (and my father had to concede) from the elevated events to the notion of a night golf league for the top names, to the PIP. 

My father said "but the PIP started before LIV"... and he is correct but lets not pretend that the PGA didn't already know about the pending threat of competition from Norman. The PIP was just their first attempt to try and make their most influential players happy. 

 

I'm glad the PGA took it on the chin. Not because I ever waned a fracture in golf at the highest level but if there was inevitably going to be one, the way the PGA handled it was pathetic. I've never been a "LIV fanboy" as much as just an anti PGA guy for this specific issue

 

 

[Mike Hunt 261]

Seems like the Saudis just bought the PGA.

[Cruzer 1,995]

1 hour ago, Reality said:

If this is actually true... Holy Fock...

 

What Jay-boy did to the players reminds me of a scene from Wall Street. When Bud is trying to pitch Geko to Blue Star and Bud’s dad sniffs it out. 
 

Carl Fox : He's using you, kid. He's got your in his back pocket, but you're too blind to see it. 

[Cruzer 1,995]

30 minutes ago, WhiteWonder said:

I'm glad the PGA took it on the chin. Not because I ever waned a fracture in golf at the highest level but if there was inevitably going to be one, the way the PGA handled it was pathetic. I've never been a "LIV fanboy" as much as just an anti PGA guy for this specific issue

I’m glad too - the majors this year proved (100%) that the game is better with those guys in the mix. Plus, the PGA players benefited as much as anyone from LIV - they’ve banked with all the new found monies. 
 

And in the end, we learned 2 things: 

* Money trumps “tradition and integrity”. 

* Phil was right. 

[edjr 6,578]

42 minutes ago, Cruzer said:

 

* Phil was right. 

Unless he is placing a bet

[WhiteWonder 2,675]

50 minutes ago, edjr said:

Unless he is placing a bet

Maybe he bet on a LIV golfer to win a major in 2023. The odds were pretty good I think before the Masters 

[Cruzer 1,995]

23 minutes ago, WhiteWonder said:

Maybe he bet on a LIV golfer to win a major in 2023. The odds were pretty good I think before the Masters 

I was gonna say, sounds like Phil gambled on LIV hit a jackpot.

[WhiteWonder 2,675]

10 minutes ago, Cruzer said:

I was gonna say, sounds like Phil gambled on LIV hit a jackpot.

He got what, 200 mil to go to LIV? at a time when his game was in pretty bad shape, save for that one historic week? He made a controversial comment that caused him to have to take some time off and lose sponsors but in the end turned out to be a pretty accurate statement where he can now say he was right. The PGA changed, top level golf has changed....and in the process we saw him finish 2nd at Augusta and make the cut at the PGA with his game actually looking pretty solid.

big time jackpot. 

[listen2me 23 1,825]

Trump saw it coming

"All of those golfers that remain ‘loyal’ to the very disloyal PGA, in all of its different forms, will pay a big price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes, and you get nothing but a big ‘thank you from PGA officials who are making millions of dollars a year," Trump posted on Truth Social in July 2022 as professional golfers were weighing huge paydays to defect to the LIV Tour despite media criticism over its Saudi funding, which was referred to as "blood money."

"If you don’t take the money now, you will get nothing after the merger takes place and only say how smart the original signees were. Good luck to all and congratulations to really talented Cam Smith on his incredible win!

[Cruzer 1,995]

5 hours ago, Fireballer said:

Can’t wait the see Chamblees take at some point today

I want to see if he’ll go after and roast Jay-boy with the same vigor and venom as he did Phil, Norman and the rest of LIV. 

[patweisers44 815]

1 minute ago, Cruzer said:

I want to see if he’ll go after and roast Jay-boy with the same vigor and venom as he did Phil, Norman and the rest of LIV. 

I would guess he goes after jay boy with the most venom. Chambel saves face going after someone.... the sellout, who will be gone from his role sooner rather than later anyway.

[Cruzer 1,995]

3 minutes ago, patweisers44 said:

I would guess he goes after jay boy with the most venom. Chambel saves face going after someone.... the sellout, who will be gone from his role sooner rather than later anyway.

Next breaking news: PHIL MICKELSON NEW TOUR COMMISSIONER.

[edjr 6,578]

5 hours ago, Fireballer said:

Can’t wait the see Chamblees take at some point today

Be nice to see someone make him Chambleed

[lod001 1,344]

Now that was an unexpected outcome. Every hack that took the saudi $ is making out like a bandit. I assume they are still going to get all the $ they signed on for. 

 

[patweisers44 815]

1 hour ago, Cruzer said:

Next breaking news: BILLY HORSCHEL NEW TOUR COMMISSIONER.

@Cruzer. Fixed your post

[Cruzer 1,995]

15 minutes ago, patweisers44 said:

@Cruzer. Fixed your post

Fuk Billy Horschits!

[patweisers44 815]

17 minutes ago, Cruzer said:

Fuk Billy Horschits!

Miss ya Cruz.....

[lod001 1,344]

49 minutes ago, Cruzer said:

Fuk Billy Horschits!

Horseshit really has to be pissed. As bad as he's sucking right now, he could have made millions running to LIV after his 2022 run and been much better off with his current suckage generating zero $.

[bostonlager 2,664]

Hopefully this irons itself out by January. I want the big guns that left back on tour and on the designated events. 

[lod001 1,344]

The best thing about this is there wont be any woke or alphabet soup freaks promotions like the nba and nfl.

[bostonlager 2,664]

 

[WhiteWonder 2,675]

4 hours ago, lod001 said:

Now that was an unexpected outcome. Every hack that took the saudi $ is making out like a bandit. I assume they are still going to get all the $ they signed on for. 

 

I believe if they go back to the PGA (if given the chance) they would forfeit their remaining contract. Plus probably some legal issues. **back to the PGA meaning full time and not fulfilling their LIV contractual obligation. They could obviously do both and be fine and LIV has never said they can’t play on other tours**
 

example: I think Phil got 100 mil up front and then 33.3 per season through 2025. So if he were to go back to the PGA in 2024 he would forfeit 66.6 mil and probably have a lawsuit on his hands for breach of contract 

That won’t happen of course because he’s exempt for the majors through his LIV contract and at his age that’s all he cares about but it was the best example I had as they discussed his contract on golf Chan. 

[edjr 6,578]

3 hours ago, patweisers44 said:

Miss ya Cruz.....

[Swayze] Ditto [/Swayze]

[edjr 6,578]

2 hours ago, bostonlager said:

 

https://twitter.com/RohunJauhar/status/1666113569136451584/photo/1