The golf world has reacted to the shock announcement the PGA Tour will merge with LIV Golfr after a long-running legal battle and the sport has been left baffled over how Greg Norman and Tiger Woods were reportedly left in the dark over the deal. On Wednesday, after nearly two years of bitter words and falling outs, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan announced the two golf tours would end the biggest rivalry the sport has faced.
“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” Monahan said, who was previously a huge critic of LIV. “How did we go from a confrontation to now being partners? We just realised we were better off together than we were fighting or apart.”
Except Monahan’s stunning announcement has left a number of PGA golfers fuming. And the golf world also waits for Woods and Rory McIlroy to break their silence after becoming the biggest advocates for the traditional tour.
McIlroy stood up for the PGA Tour and entered into countless war-of-words against LIV Golf leader Greg Norman. Woods joined him and the bitter feud took a turn with stars such as Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Australia’s Cameron Smith all leaving for around $150 million.
Woods then made a huge statement and claimed their would be no compromise with LIV Golf going forward if Norman was involved. Norman then labelled Woods as the ‘mouthpiece’ of the PGA. However, in a stunning twist, neither Woods or Norman were involved in the deal struck by the two golf bodies.
Monahan’s concession to merge the tours is a huge win for LIV Golf and the players that joined the breakaway group. Norman admitted earlier this year that he could see the merger happening and it was only a matter of time. And he was right.
