PGA Tour pro: "I'd probably be more concerned if I was on LIV right now"

A PGA Tour player said LIV Golf players should be the ones more concerned following the merger news.

09 Jun 2023

One PGA Tour player said he'd be more concerned if he was a LIV Golf player following the recent bombshell news of a agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) - which provides the financial backing for LIV Golf.

On Tuesday, in a statement, the PGA Tour announced that along with the DP World Tour, it would combining its commercial businesses and rights with the golf-related commercial businesses and rights of the PIF, including LIV Golf.

The agreement to mix the three parties will create an entirely new entity with the aim to "unify the game of golf" according to the release.

It also touched on what the process could look like for LIV Golf players who plan on re-applying for membership on either the PGA Tour or DP World Tour, after a flurry resigned from both to avoid sanctions for joining the rival circuit.

The statement said that the three organizations will work together to establish a "fair and objective" process.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF, will be the new entity's chairman, while PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan will serve as CEO.

On Wednesday, Rory McIlroy spoke to the media about the shocking agreement ahead of the RBC Canadian Open.

"If you look at the structure of how it's structured now, this new company sits above everything. Jay's the CEO of that," McIlroy told reporters when asked what his current opinion on the situation was. "So technically anyone that is involved with LIV now would answer to Jay. So the PGA Tour have control of everything."

On Thursday, after playing a round with McIlroy and Omar Uresti, Justin Rose separately echoed similar thoughts to McIlroy's.

"The news, the headline seems like it's just going to be this very smooth transition and come on back, boys, it's all done now. I don't think that's the case," Rose told reporters after shooting a 3-under 69. "I still think I'm happy where I am. I'd probably be more concerned if I was on LIV right now than on the PGA Tour."

The 42-year-old added that he initially thought it was a "prank" when he first heard of the news.

"I mean, the news was definitely left field. It was like one of those wondering if it was a prank for the first five minutes or so, you know. I'm very happy with what I'm doing. I feel like my game is trending where I want it to be. I feel like it's been important for me to challenge myself against the best players in order to try to rekindle the form that I know I'm capable of."

He added:

"Obviously playing major championship golf was always the thing I could never give up. So I was kind of always very content."

Rose, who has 11 wins on the PGA Tour and 12 more internationally, also spoke on the prospect of players merging back together.

"Obviously, we're looking for a harmonious world of golf. This is what I think this is designed to achieve. That's not going to be overnight. Obviously there's a lot of players that you guys want to watch play golf, who we know all know who they are on LIV. They got a lot to offer the game of golf. I think just because they made a certain decision doesn't mean they're outcasts forever."

Ultimately, Rose said he thinks the transition will be different for each player.

After Thursday's first round of the Canadian Open, Rose was two-strokes back of the leaders.

Canada's own Corey Conners, was among those at the top after shooting a 5-under par 67 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club.

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