News of a historic merger of livgolf, The PGA Tour and DP World Tour have apparently ended the split between rival golf tours, but Tuesday’s announcement may have created another set of problems after some Tour members suggested they first learned of the partnership in social networks.
Two-time major winner Collin Morikawa took to Twitter to express his apparent frustration upon learning on social media that the Tour and its European counterpart had reached an agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) to create a new «collectively owned» entity.
Collin Morikawa plays a shot during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6, 2023 in Georgia. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
«I love getting the morning news on Twitter,» he wrote in a tweet.
PGA TOUR ANNOUNCES HISTORIC MERGER WITH SAUDI-BACKED LIV GOLF
Morikawa was among the PGA tour The members were rumored to be leaving for LIV last year, but he quickly dismissed the speculation in June 2022, saying he was «here to stay.»
Three-time PGA Tour winner Scott Stallings confirmed Morikawa’s comment, responding in a tweet of his own: «You and me.»
A letter purportedly sent from the Tour to the players circulated on social media, but it was unclear if the letter was sent before the announcement.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan speaks to the media during a press conference prior to the Players Championship on March 8, 2022 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
On the LIV front, several of their golfers were happy with the announcement.
2022 PGA Championship Winner Brooks Koepka, who also finished T2 at the Masters in April, mocked Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee, an outspoken critic of the Saudi-backed tour.
Phil Mickelson simply tweeted: «Today is an amazing day.»
Phil Mickelson practicing on the putting green at the LIV Golf Boston Invitational. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The new agreement will merge PIF’s golf-related businesses, which include LIV Golf, with those of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour into a «new for-profit entity, collectively owned to ensure that all stakeholders benefit.» of a model that offers maximum excitement and competition among the best players in the game».
The Saudi PIF will also make an «equity investment» in the newly established entity, as part of the deal.
Another important point of the agreement is that the agreement will end all pending litigation between the three tours and will allow players who left their respective tours to reapply for membership after the 2023 season.