Paul McGinley dishes on expected PGA Tour-LIV deal

Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley expects a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf could happen soon. Very, very soon.

In fact, according to the Irishman, an agreement could be struck before The Masters in April.

The PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls LIV, have been embroiled in negotiations since June 2023.

But finally, the sides are expected to reach a deal to unify the men’s professional game.

“The best thing for the game is to come together somehow – it’s not going to be easy as we’ve seen, it’s taken a long time to get to where we are, but it sounds like we’re closer now than we ever have been,” McGinley told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.

“It’s not going to start with everybody back as friends, it’ll be a slow process in that regard.

“But the main thing is to find some kind of umbrella that both tours can work under as well as the DP World Tour and then try to get some kind of schedule out of that.

“There’s going to be something announced and from what I hear, it’s going to be announced relatively soon, maybe even before the Masters.”

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A ‘Framework Agreement’ was signed almost two years ago, following the inception of LIV in 2022, that would end the divide created by the breakaway league.

Since then, some of the game’s biggest stars have jumped from the PGA Tour to LIV, including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.

Now, the best players on each circuit are only seen together four times a year – at the major championships – but McGinley has reiterated the financial implications, too.

“The game has got to come together, it’s not sustainable at the moment,” he said. “The prize money is ridiculous. The business model is not producing the money the players are playing for.

“The Saudis have spent $5 billion so far with LIV and they’ve got limited traction. The PGA Tour is spending more than they’re bringing in and they’re going to run out of runway there.

“So, the game has got to come back. Nobody’s winning at the moment, except for the players with the huge prize money they’re playing for.

“The sponsors are not winning, and the public is not winning because we’re not getting to see these players play together more regularly and TV is not winning.”

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Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan have all recently met with US President Donald Trump to discuss the process.

Woods said yesterday at the Genesis Invitational that the factions are close to resolving the split.

“I think things are going to heal quickly,” he told CBS. We’re going to get this game going in the right direction. It has been headed in the wrong direction for a number of years.

“The fans want all the top players playing together and we’re going to make that happen.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.