Rory McIlroy’s recent assertion that a merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour is far off has been countered by Webb Simpson, who believes that progress is nearer than his fellow pro anticipates. And his latest statement comes even with Scottie Scheffler’s biting remarks about the Saudi-sponsored circuit.
The golfing world was taken aback in 2023 when news surfaced of an initial agreement to bridge the gap between the rival tours. However, there’s been scant headway on actual unification, fuelling McIlroy’s skepticism on whether a deal would materialize.
Speaking at the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month, the Northern Irish golfer sensed no movement towards a resolution. But Simpson, who is a key figure on the PGA Tour’s Policy Board, asserts otherwise.
During a landmark meeting with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, chief of the LIV-backing Public Investment Fund, insight was gained into what motivates LIV’s pursuits. “I think we’re definitely closer because I think at that time SSG [Strategic Sports Group] was brand new,” Simpson told Bob Harig from Sports Illustrated.
The former US Open champion reflected on the initial uncertainty surrounding the new group, noting: “They were getting their feet wet.” Now, with a deeper grasp of the Saudi Arabian’s vision for LIV, he conveyed optimism: “I think now there is an understanding more of who he [Al-Rumayyan] is, what he wants, what he’s trying to accomplish with LIV.
“At least we have a better understanding. On paper, maybe it doesn’t look like we’re any further. I do believe we are.”
Simpson suggests that the main hurdle to a deal is LIV’s team format of a 14-event schedule, which clashes with the PGA’s event structure. “To me, it’s hard to get your mind around the team concept,” added the North Carolina native.
“I’ve gotten that feedback from golf fans. You can get your mind around the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup once a year. But the franchise model or Formula 1 model on the PGA Tour… it’s hard to see a future in that.”
Even if a reunion of golf’s top players were to happen, they’d have to deal with some golfers who’ve previously criticised LIV, with Scheffler recently taking a swipe at the series. Despite the sport becoming one again during next month’s Masters, the world No. 1 voiced his frustration that competition within golf has suffered since several players left for the rival tour.
“I definitely miss the competition,” he said in a pre-Masters conference call on Wednesday. “They’ve got some pretty good players on their tour. I still think the PGA Tour has by far the best players in the world. The depth of our fields and the competition that we have is still hands down the best competition that there is in the game of golf.
“That’s why I’m still playing on the Tour. I love the competition. I wish some of those guys had stayed, but at the end of the day, they made their choice. They knew the consequences of that decision, and I’m not here to change their minds. I hold no ill will toward any of those guys that left.
“They did what they wanted to do, and I can’t control their life. I’m not going to sit here and say they should have done something differently. They made their choice. If we want to figure out why the game of golf is not back together, go ask those guys. Go to wherever they are playing this week and figure out when the game is going to come back together.”
