LIV UPDATE June 8 to June 12, 2023 

LIV UPDATE June 8 to June 12, 2023 

JUNE 7 Jay Monahan makes the surprise announcement of an agreement reached between LIV and the PGA.

JUNE 8 The men who will be extremely influential in the future of professional golf are Yasir al-Rumayyan governor of the Public Investment Fund and Chair the Board of the new entity, and Jay Monahan commissioner of the PGA who will head the new entity Jimmy Dunn has entered the picture and may have a strong influence on future decisions.

The role of Greg Norman, who has been the driving force behind LIV since its inception as the Saudi League in February of 2022, is uncertain.  He was not part of the negotiations establishing the new entity of LIV, PGA and DP World Tours.  However he has issued a statement to all LIV employees that LIV will continue to exist and he is planning its schedule through 2024 and 2025.  I doubt that this is accurate.  

An interesting sideline is that before this deal was completed, it was rumored that Jon Rahm was negotiating with LIV.  If this had happened it would have been a huge win for LIV, and devastating for the PGA.  As a Spaniard he may have had more friends with LIV than the PGA, and he would remain eligible for the majors.  However he has stated that he has made enough money and his interest is in the history and integrity of golf and the PGA, so if the rumor is true, why would he consider moving to LIV.  I am sure the truth will come out. 

JUNE 9 The PGA has reversed calling the agreement a “merger”.

Brandel Chamblee, a well respected Golf Channel commentator and strong critic of LIV and the recent “Merger” feels that the Players Board or the Department of Justice will negate the deal.  This is far from over.  On the Rich Eisen show ,Alan Shipnuck reports that Ricky Fowler turned down $75M to join LIV, money that for him is gone due to the agreement between LIV and PGA.

Jimmy Dunn  He came out of nowhere to become a big part of this deal.  He has a reputation as an excellent amateur golfer, is president of Seminole Golf Club, and is a very successful financial businessman on Wall Street. On Sept 11 2001, he was golfing when his best friend and business partner was killed along with 65 employees of his investment company, in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, so he is no fan of the Saudis or LIV.  His meeting with Yasir Al-Rumayyan was instrumental in leading to the agreement between LIV and the PGA.  He felt this agreement was in the best interest of the future of golf and he was the one who first informed Rory McIlroy of the impending announcement on June 7.