In a move that has sent shockwaves around the golfing world, the PGA and Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf announced Tuesday that the two entities have agreed to a merger. Prior to the announcement, neither players nor sponsors were made aware of the agreement – with a number waking up to read the news on Twitter. The deal, the final details of which have yet to be worked out, was struck by PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The move was so secretive that now outgoing LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was notified only minutes before Monahan and Al-Rumayyan made the announcement in an interview (Monahan will be taking over Norman’s position as part of the merger).
This historic announcement comes after the two sides have fought viciously, in and out of the courtroom, over the last year. LIV had previously accused the PGA of antitrust behavior, and indeed, the Justice Department launched an antitrust investigation into the PGA’s dealings last year. The PGA countered by decrying Saudi Arabia’s abhorrent human rights record and accusing them of attempting to “buy the game of golf.” The irony of Tuesday’s announcement has not been lost on critics of the Saudis or even Monahan himself.
“I recognize that people are going to call me a hypocrite. Anytime I said anything, I said it with the information that I had at that moment, and I said it based on someone that’s trying to compete for the PGA Tour and our players,” he said. “I accept those criticisms. But circumstances do change.”
Texas Republican congressman Chip Roy, who had partnered with 9/11 families and the PGA in criticizing the Saudi government, said “I wonder if the PGA Tour—having wrapped itself in the flag—invited 9/11 families to the big announcement? I guess not, because money was worth more than principle, apparently.”
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy said that Monahan “came to my office and told me it would be a moral outrage for Saudi Arabia to have an ownership stake in a major American sport. The announcement speaks for itself as to what really matters. It’s all about the money.”
Though the acrimony between the two sides has abated, their legal issues may yet persist. The Justice Department’s investigation into potentially anti-competitive behavior on the part of the PGA remains ongoing, and the announcement of the merger may serve to add fuel to the fire. LIV has, for the past year, been engaged in intense litigation against the PGA claiming antitrust abuses. Now, even though LIV will be dropping all litigation, the Justice Department investigation rolls on.
Author bio: Steve Balmer is a rising 3rd year law student at Temple University Beasley School of Law, studying sports and entertainment law. He is an avid sports fan, with a particular interest in American and European soccer.
