Augusta, Ga. – Add Tom Watson to the list of people in the world of golf who think that reunification is not on the table at the moment.
The eight major champion, speaking after participating in The ceremonial t-shirt was officially opened The 89th Masters Thursday morning at the Augusta National Golf Club, thinks that things are simply too complicated at the moment so that the PGA Tour and the golf liv come together.
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“I do not see a real work mechanism for the two tours to meet,” said Watson. “I think this is one of the reasons why you have not seen an agreement … Since June two years ago.”
The PGA Tour and the public investment fund of Saudi Arabia, which supports Golf Liv, have been negotiating for a partnership since The commissioner of tour Jay Monahan made his surprise announcement Almost two years ago. Although there were times when he felt close, especially after a pair of meetings at The White House with President Donald TrumpThe two parties seem to be far from the finalization of an agreement.
The tour would also have refused an offer of $ 1.5 billion in the PIF earlier this month. The details of this offer are not known, although the PIF wants its governor to be co -president of the PGA Tour Enterprises' Board and, among other things, that Team Golf remains part of the sport.
There is 12 golf golf members on the ground this week At the Masters, which has been the least players in this circuit since its start. More than half of them also have a lifetime exemption. The tournament is only one of the four this year when the world of golf is back in the same place.
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One of those who have a lifetime exemption is Jon Rahm, who, questioned about reunification on Tuesday, said this: “As I can say and you can say, that does not happen anytime.”
While Watson admitted that all the people involved wanted the reunification to occur – including Scottie Scheffler, in the leading, who apparently said that he was delighted that everyone was back together at the Champions dinner on Tuesday evening – he thinks it is simply too far.
“It is really up to the powers to see if there is a framework in which the two tours can cooperate,” said Watson. “I do not see this framework occur.”
Liv Golf is currently in its fourth season, and it Feels a bit like the league is on the strings. Less than 500,000 people listening to Fox to watch the tournament last week in southern Florida, which marked the first time that the League was presented on a large American network. In comparison, the PGA Tour Valero Texas Open attracted more than 1.7 million viewers despite the fact that most of its stars are in competition.
Jack Nicklaus (Center) and Tom Watson both participated in the Tee Child Child to open the masters on Thursday morning. (Erick W. Rasco / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Erick W. Rasco via Getty Images)
If the two leagues will finally conclude an agreement, it does not seem that this will happen in the near future. And, at least in the eyes of Jack Nicklaus, the tour no longer necessarily needs golf liv.
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“I think the liv pushed the PGA Tour to do certain things that were a little premature for the PGA Tour. But the PGA Tour is doing well,” said Nicklaus. “I think they have changed their structure. Players now have a piece of what's going on. I think their plan to bring their raised events and their plan to bring young players to other tournaments have succeeded. We make new stars for the game.
“Did I love seeing them all come together?” Of course, I think we will all do it. But I think the PGA Tour is the tour, and that's where most of your good players are, and I think it's very healthy, no matter what's going on, but obviously we would all like to see everyone together. “
