The PGA Tour, the European Tour and the LIV Golf circuit, backed by Saudi Arabia and which revolutionized golf with its creation in 2022, announced a historic agreement on Tuesday to merge and form a commercial entity that unifies golf.
“After two years of disruptions and distractions, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a joint news release.
The LIV Golf is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and has been accused by critics of being a vehicle for the country to try to improve its reputation in the face of criticism over its record of censorship of human rights.
The rival circuit launched in 2022 and has attracted a number of big-name players from the PGA Tour, including Hall of Fame golfer Phil Mickelson, former world number one Dustin Johnson, current PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka and Australian Cameron Smith.
