LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger 'under review' by the US Justice Department

07 June 2023 , 12:37

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LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger 'under review' by the US Justice Department

The partnership involving the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is under review by the US Justice Department.

Social media erupted following the news of the two tours coming together after two years at loggerheads with one another. The PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who had been one of the biggest critics of LIV, now seems keen to work with their rivals.

The news broke that the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund had signed an agreement in principle with the partnership set to come into force at the conclusion of the current golf season. But according to Bloomberg the US Justice Department, which is already conducting an investigation into the PGA amid their dispute with LIV, will review the deal concerning the merging of the two golf circuits.

They have been tasked with the review instead of the US Federal Trade Commission, which often handles matters of this nature in sports. Since Tuesday's announcement, Monahan was quick to dismiss any concerns regarding the blockbuster deal.

“Every single player in men’s professional golf is going to have more opportunity and more growth,” he told CNBC. “We are going to grow our industry. This is all positive.” However, officials have voiced concerns that the unification of the tours will create a significant monopoly in a sport where the PGA only gained LIV as a rival last year.

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Tuesday's announcement is also set to resolve the pending litigation after LIV was involved in an antitrust lawsuit with the PGA. Players were left reportedly left furious with the announcement and were not made aware of the news before it landed on social media.

Monahan has since said that PGA players who turned down the opportunity to sign for LIV could be compensated. He also revealed discussions will take place to see if this can come to fruition.

(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"I think those are all the serious conversations that we're going to have," he explained. "Ultimately, everything needs to be considered. Ultimately, what you're talking about is an equalisation over time and I think that's a fair and reasonable concept."

Two players who will be eligible for this are Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. The 15-time major winner was reportedly offered a staggering £650 million package by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund entity, while it is claimed McIlroy received an offer of £400 million.

Neither player was informed of the merger before the public announcement. The Northern Irishman attended a meeting at the Canadian Open where furious players spoke about their anger at finding out the news via social media.

Liam Llewellyn