It’s been more than two years since the PGA Tour’s framework agreement with LIV Golf, but the reunion of pro golf still seems far away, according to stars on both sides of the aisle.
In a conversation with CNBC’s CEO Council ForumRory McIlroy, who has been a strong supporter of bringing pro golf back together, was not optimistic about the state of play between the two sides.
“I think it would be better for golf in general if there was unification,” McIlroy said. “But I just think that given what’s happened in recent years, it’s going to be very difficult to be able to do that.”
Bryson DeChambeau also sees no light at the end of the tunnel. The two-time US Open champion believes the two sides are firmly entrenched and it will take time to see any real movement to bring the game back together.
“Man, I wish something big would happen, but I don’t think it will happen in the near future. I think there’s too much wanting on both sides and not enough caring on the other side,” DeChambeau said in a speech. Recent interview with FOX News.
“In many ways we are just too far apart. It will take some time, but ultimately I think the game of golf will grow internationally.”
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In February, McIlroy implored players on both sides of the divide to put aside their differences and realize that they have all benefited financially from the split and that now is the time to bring the game back together.
“Whether you stayed on the PGA Tour or left, we all benefited from this,” McIlroy said during the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines. “I’ve said this many times: We’re playing for $20 million in prize money this week. That would never have happened if it wasn’t for LIV. I think everyone just has to get over it, and we all have to say, okay, this is the starting point and we’re going to move on. We’re not looking back. We’re not looking at the past. Whatever has happened, has happened and it’s been unfortunate, but reunion, how we all get back together and move forward, that’s the best thing for everyone.
“If people are hurt or their feelings are hurt because guys left or whatever, who cares? Let’s move on together, and let’s just try to get this thing going again and do what’s best for the game.”
McIlroy’s plea to unify the game came with a reasonable reminder that the return of the players who left for LIV would benefit them financially in the long run. After Strategic Sports Group invested $1.5 billion in the newly formed PGA Tour Enterprises last January, players received equity grants in the company with an eight-year vesting period. As McIlroy noted, if the PGA Tour has the best players in the world, the value of the company and their stock will increase.
“Like us, they’re all right on this tour,” McIlroy said. “It’s good to have Bryson DeChambeau coming back and playing on this tour.”
When LIV first burst onto the scene and broke into the professional game, McIlroy was the leading voice in the PGA Tour’s battle against the Saudi-backed competition. While McIlroy still believes the rise of LIV was bad for the health of the pro game, he sees that everyone has benefited from the split and that pro golf cannot continue in its fractured state.
“I didn’t feel that way at first because of the breakup,” McIlroy said. “It wasn’t good for the game. It wasn’t good for the overall game. It wasn’t good for either tour, I didn’t think. I think we’ve both been pretty much great for the majors. We all get together at the majors and that’s been a really good thing, but for both tours it’s unsustainable.”
In February it seemed the two sides were getting closer to an agreement, but in March the tone changed and things have remained quiet ever since.
Since then, LIV Golf has reapplied for the official World Golf Rankings points, made the change to go to 72 holes and added a new qualifying route with a Q-School tweak.
The move to 72 holes was made with the coveted OWGR points in mind, but McIlroy was left scratching his head.
“I think it’s a strange move because I think with three rounds they could have gained ranking points,” McIlroy said this month at the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. “I don’t think three rounds versus four rounds stopped them.
“It certainly brings them more in line with traditional golf tournaments than what we’ve all been doing. It brings them back to not really being a destructor and more in line with what everyone else is doing. But if they felt like they had to do that to get the ranking points, then I think they had to do that.”
LIV’s changes indicate that the leading group under new CEO Scott O’Neil is full steam ahead and has no plans to go anywhere.
Neither McIlroy nor DeChambeau sees traction in the big golf unification plan, but DeChambeau is hopeful that over time the game will eventually come back together.
“I won’t speak for anyone, but I think there will be improvements to the game over time,” DeChambeau told FOX News. “It’s a positive disruption, and it will take time for the water to settle and create a perfect scenario where we all come together again.
“In the end, I think it will be good for the game in the long run.”
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