Remember when Tiger Woods optimistically said, “I think that things are going to heal quickly. We’re going to get this game going in the right direction.”  That hopeful vision of golf’s reunification now feels distant. Instead of progress, all we’ve gotten is silence.

For years, the PGA Tour took a hard stance against LIV Golf. It suspended players who defected, condemned sportswashing, and painted itself as the moral alternative. Now, those same executives are sitting at the table with the very people they fought against. So, what changed? For starters, the PGA Tour’s legal battle with LIV Golf has been exhausting, expensive, and, frankly, unsustainable.

The 2023 framework agreement that was supposed to merge the two tours under the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund (PIF) has stalled. U.S. regulators raised antitrust concerns, and many PGA Tour loyalists weren’t thrilled about the idea of suddenly working alongside the players who cashed in on LIV’s massive contracts.

With pressure mounting and no clear path forward, Monahan and his team seem desperate to make a deal happen. And Trump, whose business ties to LIV Golf are well documented, has now inserted himself as a key player in the negotiations, for the second time this month. The first was on February 4, and after that, the Tour announced that it was closer to reaching a deal.

Now, on Fe 20, after PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Woods, and Adam Scott met behind closed doors at the White House with President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Al-Rumayyan, fans expected answers. Instead, they got a carefully worded statement about a “constructive” meeting and a “shared passion for the game.” No details. No specifics. Just vague promises about moving forward “as quickly as possible.”

With so much at stake, the lack of transparency from the PGA Tour is rubbing people the wrong way. Players are growing frustrated, and many like Rory McIlroy are asking for reunification at a faster pace. At this point, golfers just want the drama to end so they can focus on competing. 

If reunification is truly happening, the PGA Tour owes its players and fans some real answers. Until then, speculation will only grow. From the latest statement by PGA Tour officials, it’s clear they’re staying silent but still trying to sound optimistic—giving fans just enough hope that a merger is coming soon. But at this point, that ‘soon’ has dragged on for so long that fans aren’t buying it anymore. Instead of excitement, all that’s left is frustration.

Golf insiders aren’t sold on the merger just yet

Sure, the PGA Tour is pushing an optimistic narrative, but not everyone’s convinced. PGA Tour veteran Jim Gallagher recently weighed in, voicing concerns about how money—not the love of the game—is driving the conversation. “It’s about money right now,” Gallagher said. “It’s all about how much money we’re playing for. You play for the love of the game. I think that’s gone away.”

Journalist Gabby Herzig, who’s been following the merger talks closely, also believes there’s more happening behind the scenes than fans realize. She was one of the first to dig into the legal roadblocks surrounding the PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger, and now that the original deadline has passed with talks still dragging on, things look even murkier. Herzig also pointed to a recent meeting between PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Donald Trump, and Adam Scott, calling it “a big deal.” With the Department of Justice’s antitrust investigation looming over everything, the PGA Tour turning to Trump for involvement only complicates an already tangled situation.

And that’s the real issue—no one knows what’s coming next. The PGA Tour is carefully choosing its words, but behind the scenes, the legal battles, political angles, and business interests are making this anything but a straightforward deal.

So, what do you think? Is golf on the path to a real reunification, or is it all just getting messier? Let us know in the comments.