The recent $3 billion merger has arguably left the biggest cliffhanger in the history of golf. It has left the future of the sport cloaked in uncertainty. Many sources and entities have tried to reason about and make sense of the same. Some have even come up with their own version of how the involution of two entities into one will work. However, these still haven’t answered the major questions that have many scratching their heads.
There has still been no confirmation on how exactly the Saudi-backed league and its unorthodox format might proceed. Although a new revelation regarding Greg Norman‘s LIV Golf has been made public, that sounds like a catch-22 situation and may leave the defectors worried!
A major question mark looms over LIV Golf
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Immediately after the coalition between the PGA Tour, PIF, and the DP World Tour, the next query was, “What about LIV Golf?” And the answer wasn’t presented very clearly. LIV Golf has been one of the most discussed entities this past year. Whether it was because of its not-so-traditional gameplay or the financial support it received, the league remained in the headlines.
Now, the Saudi-operated financial cooperation has also joined hands with the PGA Tour to form a completely unified golf entity. But apparently, this spells trouble for them and their management. As per the tweet posted by Nuclr Golf, ESPN has received some serious confirmations regarding LIV Golf.
Greg Norman’s brainchild, according to the tweet, won’t survive past 2023. Even if it does pursue it, the current form of the league, not its CEO, would continue. Jay Monahan, in his memo to PGA Tour players, already clarified how LIV would continue its 2023 season as per the schedule. However, after its completion, an extensive evaluation of the league will take place, which will help understand how to incorporate team golf into the traditional game.
🚨JUST IN: Multiple sources ‘at the highest level of the sport’ tell ESPN that LIV is unlikely to survive beyond this year and if it does continue – won’t be in its current form. ESPN is also reporting that Greg Norman will not be involved in the future of the league.
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) June 9, 2023
Not only this, players who wish to reapply for their previous tour cards will be given a ‘fair and objective process.’ On Friday, the PGA Tour policy board member, Jimmy Dunne, as per ESPN, shed light on the substructure of the golden era of golf. According to Dunne, the Tour Commissioner would be supervising LIV Golf. This would provide Monahan with the control necessary to establish the future of LIV Golf beyond 2023.
What does it mean for Greg Norman and LIV players if the new series folds?
According to recent updates, Yasir Al-Rumayyan is now the chairman of the new united golf corporation. In addition to this, the CEO of the PIF-supported new golf entity will be Jay Monahan. This, of course, poses a big conundrum regarding the participation of LIV CEO Greg Norman in this new union.
As per the reports, it appears that the yet-to-be-named entity won’t move forward with the Aussie professional as its CEO or commissioner. This is a major setback for Norman, who has been active in the establishment of LIV Golf. Moreover, if LIV folds and doesn’t continue its present structure, it would create problems for its golfers as well. In accordance with this, Jimmy Dunne said, “I think we would form a panel, including tour players, that would evaluate what the terms would be.”
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#MORE: https://t.co/Xhz6ZKyZjT
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) June 9, 2023
In context for the players who would wish to reinstate their previous membership, he continued that they would be “coming back to compete on the Tour.” This implies that these players need to be confident in themselves and also “willing to incur the penalty for having gone.”
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What do you think of the uncertainty looming at LIV Golf, its players, and CEO Norman? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!