As Greg Norman announces LIV Golf’s Return to Adelaide, Will the $3B Merger Agreement ultimately collapse?

June 6 was a normal day for most. For golf fans, however, this was a day that would perhaps determine the golf world’s future in the long run. Six months earlier, Yasir Al-Rummayan and Jay Monahan were the last two figures you’d expect to see elbow-to-elbow with each other. But there they were on the morning television, announcing a truce in the long-running war between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.

But in the last six months, roadblocks, one after another, have cropped up. Official announcements, few and far between, have muddled the matter more. Rumors and insider reports, confounding and conflicting, have come in place to fill the gaps. As we near the 31st December deadline of the agreement, Greg Norman’s announcement of the LIV Adelaide date possibly confirms what’s long been speculated. They will fail to reach an agreement before the deadline. But does that mean the deal will collapse on its head, as some reports suggest?

Is the $3 billion merger destined to collapse?

In retrospect, the deal was a recipe for disaster from the beginning. Arguably, two of the biggest golf entities’ mergers would have rocked the boat regardless of how quiet the sea was initially. Mind you, the golf world experienced quite a few strong waves even before the breakaway league caused a tsunami.

The reported deal between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PIF, the Saudi government’s investment fund that bankrolls LIV Golf, in June shocked the world. Not just because of how unlikely it was. The main concern was that not many details were available for the public to glance at. Allegedly, no outside bankers or lawyers were part of the initial negotiation. The clandestine nature quickly drew the US Department of Justice to dig their heels for a possible breach of trust.

A few months after that, the players, who were brought to the table after some disgruntled noises were heard in the room, demanded more leverage. Apparently, they were insecure about their future after the new entity was formed. The players were never very happy about it since the beginning, with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods being outspoken critics of the fledgling league.

Moreover, only a month ago, the PGA Tour sent a memo to their players saying they had multiple proposals at hand. Investors, other than PIF, have lined up to get Monahan’s approval. Yet only a few days later, PGAT denied Endeavor’s proposal for a stake in the entity.

Interestingly, the Fenway Group chairman recently revealed that they held talks with the PGA Tour, declining to comment further on the matter. If Fenway’s bid outmatches LIV Golf’s, the Tour is in an open position to accept the offer. Given many players’ disdain for the PIF-funded league, it won’t be a surprise if that happens.

When will LIV Golf and the PGA Tour reach an agreement?

But the very fact that LIV Golf and the PGA Tour announced the deal publicly does say something about commitment, right? If the quietness of both parties has convinced you otherwise, there have been some indications of a possible thaw.

Consider the fact that one PGA Tour spokesperson said that the Promotions Tournament won’t be considered unauthorized by PGAT. This seemingly allows all PGAT and Korn Ferry Tour players who meet LIV Golf’s criteria to line up at the Promotions Tournament next month.

Is this going to be a litmus test of loyalty? Will Monahan ban the players if they qualify and choose to tee off at the LIV Golf events? There are no answers to these.

DP World Tour, another party in the proposed merger, is clear on the matter, however. They have announced a straight ban for any players who tee up at the LIV Promotions event, which collides with the European tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

With only one and a half months left, only a deadline extension can save the deal. In fact, an extension is already in the works if some PGA Tour insiders’ words are to be believed. But there has been no indication from the other side.

On the contrary, Greg Norman has only bolstered LIV Golf’s prospects of going alone. After months of uncanny silence, he spoke to reporters, brushing aside rumors of his ouster if the deal came to pass. On the heels of LIV Golf’s transfer window, Norman announced the first confirmed date of the LIV 2024 calendar.

LIV Golf Announces Return to Adelaide

Greg Norman announced on Saturday that the rebel league will return to Adelaide on April 24-26 next year. Speaking with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, the LIV Golf CEO spoke enthusiastically about the previous year’s event. According to the official statement, last year’s tournament pumped $65 million into the region’s economy with more than 77,000 footfalls from 37 different countries.

Read More: As Greg Norman Unveils Latest Plan Amid Merger Troubles, Here Are 5 Things You Need to Know About LIV Golf’s Second Trip to Australia

The numbers speak for the massive popularity LIV Golf enjoys in Australia. Norman wanted to capitalize on that to make the event bigger with expansion plans for the famous ‘Watering Hole’ on the course that offered him the sweet taste of his first professional victory.

Although the entire calendar has not been revealed, this does confirm that regardless of the outcome in December, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will continue to go their separate ways for at least one more year. Till then, all eyes will be on the promotion tournament to see how many, if any, PGA Tour pros decide to turn up at the qualifier event. Moreover, the PGA Tour’s actions will also give us some hints on which way the water will flow in the next year. It’s been a seesaw ride for both parties. Who holds the leverage at this point is anyone’s guess.

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