What a mess!!!! The proposed joining (don’t call it a “merger”) of the PGA of America and the LIV Tour of Saudi Arabia is a disaster. Saudi involvement has created the perfect storm. Foreign money (unlimited) pressuring advertiser money (limited) was the first bump. Then some players–ignoring patriotic and human rights objections–fled the US for the bigger payouts on the Saudi tour. Then hard feelings led to player dustups (Rory M.) and harsh words that made front pages. Then the PGA Commissioner–without any forewarning–announced a merger (later recanted that term) with the hated LIV Tour. Now all the LIV tour members are joining their old US co-workers at virtually every tournament. Some of the US PGA admin team (the Chief Operating Officer and two Board members) have resigned. While the tentative agreement says that Jay Monahan–the current PGA Commissioner–is President of the combined whatever, the Saudi official is the Chairman of the Board. Guess who rules. So as it stands now all American professional golfers are subject to whatever the combined tour becomes–and a Saudi has the final say. That looks pretty simple–right? The man with the money always wins–or, he who pays the piper calls the tune. Like we said What a mess!!
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