PGA-LIV merger: PGA Tour boss branded ‘hypocrite’ in fiery player meeting

Australian golf bosses have reacted to the stunning merger of LIV Golf and the PGA, detailing their next steps. Plus, go inside the fiery player meeting where accusations of hypocrisy were levelled.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 21: Cameron Smith captain of the Ripper GC hits onto the 18th green during day one of Liv Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Course on April 21, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The PGA of Australia says it is in discussions with the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour over how the peace deal with LIV Golf will affect the sport in Australia.

PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman said the focus was on ensuring that the stunning developments in world golf would benefit the local tour and its players.

“The PGA of Australia has continued discussions with the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour overnight and this morning to discuss the details of the agreement jointly announced with the Public Investment Fund to unify professional golf on a global basis,” Kirkman said.

“We have and will continue to act in a deliberate, strategic and consistent manner which is to be committed to work within golf’s global ecosystem and provide strong pathways for the players on the PGA Tour of Australasia into tours around the world.

“These discussions are ongoing as we continue to ensure any new arrangements deliver positive benefits to our Tour, all of our members and the entire Australasian golfing community and those who love the game.”

Brooks Koepka celebrates a birdie during Adelaide’s LIV Golf tournament.

PGA TOUR BOSS CONFRONTED IN FIERY PLAYER MEETING

Australian golfer Geoff Ogilvy has revealed that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan was called a “hypocrite” during a meeting with the players on Wednesday morning to update them on the stunning merger with LIV Golf that brought an end to golf’s civil war.

Monahan had been a strident critic of LIV Golf, having openly questioned the wisdom of taking money from the Saudi private investment fund.

Yet on Wednesday morning it emerged that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the PIF, which backed LIV Golf, had ended more than 12 months of bickering by agreeing to join forces.

Ogilvy confirmed that some PGA Tour aligned players were upset with the decision and openly accused Monahan of being a hypocrite.

“It was mentioned, yeah, and he took it,” Ogilvy said. “He said, ‘Yeah.’ He took it for sure.”

Monahan acknowledged during a media conference on Wednesday morning that he could understand the frustrations given his previous comments on LIV Golf.

“I recognise everything that I’ve said in the past and my prior positions,” Monahan said.

Geoff Ogilvy has revealed details of a fiery meeting with the PGA.

“I recognise 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.

“I accept those criticisms, but circumstances do change. I think that in looking at the big picture and looking at it this way, that’s what got us to this point.”

NORMAN: A GREAT DAY FOR GOLF

Liv Golf commissioner and PGA Tour critic Greg Norman has hailed the sport’s peace deal as a great day for global golf.

Norman also cryptically suggested “the journey continues” despite reportedly being frozen out of peace talks between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Saudi backers of LIV Golf.

It has been suggested that Norman only became aware of the peace deal minutes before it was announced, ending more than 12 months of civil war in the sport.

Greg Norman has suggested his journey with LIV Golf may continue. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Norman, the two-time major winner widely regarded as the greatest golfer in Australia history, was the public face of LIV golf as its leader and loudest voice .

A great day in global golf for players and fans alike. The journey continues!!

— Greg Norman (@SharkGregNorman) June 6, 2023

As such, he created a slew of enemies on the PGA Tour, headlined by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and star players Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Woods had suggested peace was impossible while Norman remained in the picture. Norman’s future with the sport is now under a cloud following the peace deal, although he seemed to suggest on social media he still had a role to play.

“A great day in global golf for players and fans alike,” Norman posted on Twitter.

“The journey continues!!”

Why Australia could be biggest loser in PGA-LIV peace deal

Cameron Smith has been presented with a path back to the US PGA Tour but it may come at the cost of the tournament he championed and the man who made him one of this country’s richest sportspeople.

News of a merger between the US PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour shocked and rocked the sport on Wednesday morning.

Peace has broken out in the world of golf, clandestine talks ending more than 12 months of bitter brawling that resulted in some of the world’s best players - Smith included - accepting life-changing money to move to the Saudi-backed LIV Tour.

Cameron Smith surrounded by fans at the LIV Tour event in Adelaide. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The secret peace deal was struck without the knowledge of the players and seemingly LIV Tour commissioner Greg Norman as well, the two-time major winner apparently kept in the dark until moments before the announcement was made.

Norman was viewed as the chief protagonist by officials and players from the US PGA Tour and it is hard to see him playing any role in the merged body.

The idea that he was kept out of peace negotiations would suggest he will be frozen out, a move that will no doubt be greeted with approval by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan as well as the likes of Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.

The possible move to freeze out Greg Norman will no doubt be greeted with approval by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Greg Norman and Adelaide could be the biggest losers out of the merger, and Cam Smith could be among its’ biggest winners. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

Woods had suggested no merger could take place if Norman was involved. As for Smith, he was tempted across the golfing divide by untold riches and it is unclear what the financial ramifications will be of the change.

There was talk he received upwards of $140 million as part of a multi-year agreement. He was criticised by some for making the switch. Some of those critics have now played a role in the peace deal with LIV Golf. It reeks of hypocrisy.

The good news is that Smith and the other LIV defectors will be given a path back to the US PGA Tour. The sport will be one again united, ending the outstanding threats of legal action and ensuring the world’s best players will again compete on a weekly basis.

The PGA Tour, LIV Golf and DP World Tours will finish their existing seasons and work on a new schedule beyond that. The wildly-successful LIV event in Adelaide may yet be the other significant casualty,

The tournament was a raging success, crowds flocking to The Grange in scenes that suggested LIV Golf was here to stay. It may be that the Adelaide event played a major role in convincing the PGA and DP World Tours to come to the table.

Whether it is enough to secure the city a tournament as part of the merged entity will be the next question. Australian fans may yet be among the big losers out of golf’s stunning merger.

Originally published as PGA-LIV merger: PGA Tour boss branded ‘hypocrite’ in fiery player meeting