A PGA Tour sign is displayed near the tee box on the 13th hole ahead of the 3M Open on July 21, 2021 in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo: David Berding/Getty Images)
This is the multi-billion-dollar question. Integrating the LIV and Tour schedules as is won’t be easy, and concessions will need to be made on both sides. In the memo sent to players on New Year’s Eve, Monahan said, “These partnerships will allow us to unify, innovate and invest in the game for the benefit of the players, fans and sponsors.”
That all sounds great. But how will that be achieved?
Given LIV’s struggles to run a smooth operation and the Tour’s inability to manage its interests between top players and rank-and-file members, should we have confidence that the two sides can work together to create something the fans want to watch? Some parts of LIV have been good, but the concept hasn’t caught on as quickly as organizers would’ve hoped. The TGL was supposed to be a big step for the Tour, but it ended up as a faceplant.
Missing the Dec. 31 deadline could have a significant impact on when PGA Tour Enterprises gets off the ground, as well. Let’s say an agreement had been reached, that would have given LIV another full year to prove its worth and the powers that be plenty of time to iron out what the future of the tours and PGA Tour Enterprises would look like. The longer the negotiations take, the worse off we all will be. A divided game overshadowed by uncertainty isn’t good for anyone.
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