PGA Tour COO Ron Price reveals ASTONISHING reason for merger with LIV Golf after ‘facing a real threat’ citing Saudi league
Speaking before the US Senate regarding the golf merger, PGA Tour COO Ron Price mentioned how they had no choice and that LIV would continue to be a threat had they not choose to take up the deal.
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PFA Tour COO Ron Price at the US Senate (Pic Credit: Th Epoch Times)
The stunning news regarding the merger between PGA Tour and LIV Golf surprised everyone. The timing and manner of the deal shook the very foundation of golf. Such was the impact of the development, the US Senate decided to look into the matter. On Tuesday, PGA Tour COO Ron Price and tour policy board member Jimmy Dunne appeared before the Senate and claimed they had no choice but to join LIV.
The LIV Golf had been making big moves since its establishment. Many top players including the likes of Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Dustin Johnson joined the breakaway tour. This trend of big names leaving the PGA Tour continued. According to Price, they had no other option left as the tour is not that big in terms of active players.
Price added that if the LIV could take five players every year from them, then in the span of five years, they can take over the PGA Tour. “They’ve got a management team that wants to destroy the Tour,” he said. Price later went on state how the league had an “unlimited amount of money,” which made it difficult for the tour to compete. Commissioner Jay Monahan also stated this reason, a few days after the announcement of the tour.
Reacting to this, Senator Richard Blumenthal slammed the tour and mentioned how they had a lot of options. In his response Price claimed, “We would still be facing a real threat that LIV Golf would continue to recruit our top players.” The Senator would later remind him how the players had stood beside them like heroes.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman to be fired if merger goes through
Another thing that came as a surprise to many apart from this deal was the exclusion of Greg Norman. The LIV CEO was not present at the meeting when the merger was announced. He himself stated that he had no idea what was going around. According to Ron Price, if the deal with the PGA and PIF goes through, the days of Norman running the LIV will be over.
When asked by Blumenthal about Norman both PGA officials said the same thing. “Just to be clear (Greg Norman) is out of a job,” Jimmy Dunne said. Price explained that if any agreement is reached, there will not be any requirement for such a position. Norman has not been shy of taking a swipe at PGA and it’s commissioner Jay Monahan ad this could be a key reason for it.
While the plans for the LIV league were still going on, Norman was named as the CEO of the new entity. This led to a lot of criticism and hatred from fans and fellow players. Norman later squared off against Monahan and sent him an email. In the mail he pointed out how Monahan cannot ban players from playing golf. Norman also mentioned how for decades he had fought for the rights of players.
The deal still faces final approval which could be blocked. If that happens both tours will go back to their original ways and continue to exist. However, if the deal goes through Norman will face the exit door. The new entity named “NewCo” will be headed by Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Jay Monahan as the leaders.
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Vinay Dave
(1743 Articles Published)