“Good for the cohesion of global golf.” – admitted a ‘surprised’ Padraig Harrington back in June 2023 when news of the merger came out. Fast forward a year later to May, the Irishman has remained steadfast in his belief that the sport needs both leagues to come together. And, Bryson DeChambeau’s recent performance at the 2024 PGA Championship appears to have only strengthened that belief.

The 52-year-old was spotted in an interview ahead of the Kitchenaid Senior PGA Championship which he is taking part. Harrington highlights the effect that the ‘Scientist’ had on golf last week while urging for a “solution” to the ongoing crisis in golf.

The Bryson DeChambeau effect; Padraig Harrington pushes for merger

A week after the PGA Championship, Harrington seems to be convinced of the need to have LIV golfers back playing on the PGA Tour. Taking DeChambeau’s example, he said, “What I realized last week, We miss Bryson, Bryson was box office last week, really really helped that tournament… It was fantastic, interesting, and exciting watching. Yeah, we do miss those guys!” The LIV Golf Pro had, interestingly, focused on having fun at the major leading to him dishing out good entertainment for the fans. The athlete had, thus, experienced a big crowd behind him at the event.

The PGA Tour Champion Pro then disclosed what he dubbed “the perfect solution” was according to him. “Have some crossover, like we did back in the day. Everybody’s got a bit of a chip in the shoulder,” divulged Harrington before adding how golfers like Bryson DeChambeau can play in both the leagues like how European players do the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. “A certain amount of players can come and go back and forth, a few invites, something like that.”

The 6-time PGA Tour champ did not shy away from pointing out how “rivalries are a good thing in the sport.” He did so while hinting at the tension between LIV golfers and athletes from the Jay Monahan-led Tour. Even so, Harrington pushed for a remedy when it came to the ongoing divided situation in the sport; “We do need a solution… All I’ve found is, ‘Wow, it just keeps moving and changing because the scene changes.’ So I think everybody in golf wants a solution.”

The senior pro did, meanwhile, say, “Every day for the last two years, I’ve had an opinion…” Well, he’s not wrong. Harrington has always been surprisingly candid in his thoughts regarding the framework agreement from the day it was announced.

Harrington’s candid thoughts on the merger

“Surprised that this merger has happened so quickly but not surprised it’s happened,” expressed the Irishman back in June 2023 when the news of the merger dropped. Although it was sudden, the golfer did not hesitate to point out how it would inevitably lead to a better economic situation for the sport and the athletes; “Definitely in the financial interest of both sides. Definitely in the financial interest of the players even though some of those who gain will feel like they’re losing.”

The senior professional had revealed his thoughts in a series of tweets following the same. Meanwhile, Harrington is but one of the many golfers, including Bryson DeChambeau, and Rory McIlroy, among others, who have expressed the need for the merger while calling for a unification in the sport. But will it happen? That is something the fans can only wait and watch out for!