R&A chief exec responds to stunning tour merger

The chief executive of the R&A has welcomed news that peace has broken out between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and LIV Golf.

It was announced this afternoon that the warring factions have negotiated a merger as part of a groundbreaking new commercial entity to “unify” the professional game.

The shock move “combines PIF’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights (including LIV Golf) with the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour into a new, collectively owned, for-profit entity” that will ensure “all stakeholders benefit from a model that delivers maximum excitement and competition among the game’s best players.”

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PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is set to become the Chief Executive Officer of the new commercial entity, while Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the Governor of the Public Investment Fund that has bankrolled the lucrative LIV Golf League, will be the chairman.

The news has stunned the golf community, with several PGA Tour pros already having voiced their anger at the news.

However, Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the R&A, is delighted by today’s development.

“We are pleased that an agreement has been reached which will help men’s professional golf move forward in a collaborative, constructive and innovative fashion,” said Slumbers.

“We care deeply about golf’s future and are committed to ensuring that the sport continues to thrive for many years to come.

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“This agreement represents a huge step toward achieving that goal for golf and we look forward to working with the new entity for the benefit of the sport globally.”

During last year’s Open Championship at St Andrews, Slumbers was hugely critical of LIV Golf, dismissing it as “not credible” and “not in the best long term interests of golf as a whole”.

The R&A also refused to invite LIV CEO Greg Norman – a two-time Open champion – to be part of the 150th Open celebrations last summer.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor