PGA Tour-LIV Golf Merger Not Yet Over as Webb Simpson Emphasizes the Need for PIF’s Billions Dollars

Not just Rory McIlroy, but Webb Simpson, too, thinks that a deal with PIF, the financial arm behind LIV Golf, is the only way forward for the PGA Tour. “I think it’s obvious. I think the writing is on the wall, not to do a deal for money, we need to do a deal for the good of the game and for the health of the PGA Tour long term,” the seven-time PGA Tour winner said. Simpson, however, calls for patience and not knee-jerk reactions out of fear.

LIV Golf has snatched some of the biggest names from the Tour. Last December, Jon Rahm, the defending Masters champion, bolted to the other side for a reported fee of $300 million. Tyrrell Hatton, world no. 17, has also followed in Rahm’s footsteps, and so has Adrian Meronk, who received his Tour card only this year. But Simpson is buoyed by Strategic Sports Group’s $3 billion investment in the Tour. 

The player-director of the PGA Tour Policy board said, “I think we’re in a position where we want to do the right deal. We don’t want to just do a deal because we’re afraid that the LIV tour might recruit more players. That’s certainly a fear.” SSG, a group of billionaire sports team owners led by the Fenway Sports Group, is set to invest $3B in the future for-profit entity, PGA Tour Enterprises. 

There was some uncertainty after SSG’s involvement as a minority stakeholder. Jordan Spieth, who replaced Rory McIlroy on the board, felt that the Tour could “go forward the way that it’s operating right now without anything else with the option of other investors”. McIlroy, however, reaffirmed that a deal with the Saudi sovereign fund can’t be avoided. Spieth, too, later clarified his stance, saying that he is not opposed to having PIF on board.

Simpson admits none of the player directors have had any conversation with PIF officials yet. The idea was to start that after having SSG on board first. “I don’t know what they (LIV and the PIF) want. I don’t know what the players playing for LIV want. I think they’re very happy where they are. I think they’re very happy with the decisions they’ve made,” Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated quoted Simpson. The 2012 US Open champion was also asked what the future could be like once an agreement is reached. 

Webb Simpson would rather have a unified PGA Tour

The lingering question in the wake of the merger announcement was how LIV Golfers could be assimilated once again. McIlroy would prefer the Tour to let them come back without any punishment. A view not shared by most of his colleagues. Simpson, still in the dark, would rather have the players back. “One thing I’m certain of is fans, players, media, sponsors alike all feel strongly that the game is divided… I think the game misses the personalities of LIV and the PGA Tour playing together. I miss a lot of my buddies out there—Charles Howell, Bubba Watson to name a couple.” 

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The 38-year-old is playing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on a sponsor exemption, his second this season. The field doesn’t lack any star power but could certainly do better with the LIV Golfers’ inclusion. 2021 champion Bryson

DeChambeau is not in the field. Neither is Tyrrell Hatton, the 2020 champion. When the Tour stops at Ponte Vadra for the Players Championship, two former champions, Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm, will also be absent.

“Right now the PGA Tour still has more great players, but LIV has great players as well. I just think for the health of the game and longevity and for what fans are used to seeing …” Webb Simpson added. The tour announced that all six player directors will also be on the board of the PGA Tour Enterprises, with Jay Monahan continuing as the CEO and Tiger Woods as the Vice Chairman. As a player-director, Simpson will have a vote that will shape the future landscape of golf. 

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