Adam Scott makes bold PGA Tour, LIV Golf prediction sure to disappoint fans
Many golf fans expected the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment (PIF), LIV Golfâs beneficiary, to strike a formal agreement by now.
After all, on Jun. 6, 2023, the two adversaries settled their lawsuits and their differences, unveiled a âframework agreement,â and set the course to establish a deal by the end of 2023. But that deadline has come and gone, with no deal in place as the top of menâs professional golf remains divided between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The tourâs Commissioner, Jay Monahan, did not provide any more details about this agreement at last monthâs Tour Championship, adding that no deadline is in place.
âI donât think we want to restrict ourselves that way,â Monahan said when asked about a deadline.
âWe want to achieve the best and right outcome at the right time.â
Nevertheless, before this weekâs Presidents Cup, which features 24 PGA Tour members among the American and International teams, Australian Adam Scott talked about golfâs future in an interview with Adam Schupak of Golfweek.
Scott, a member of the PGA Tour Policy Board, said that golf may ârealisticallyâ reunite in 2027 and that 2026 can be seen as âoptimistic.â
That prediction will disappoint fans, who long for the best players to compete side-by-side every weekânot just in the four major championships.
Yet Scott believes the sport is in good hands, despite the outside noise surrounding the PGA Tour-LIV Golf rivalry distracting from the game itself.
âI see [the sport] being stronger than ever,â Scott said.
âI think whether a deal is done with PIF or not, I see it in a good spot. Ultimately, the market will decide what it wants. The PGA Tour is still, for sure, the strongest platform and has the strongest players. Even with a competitive tour out there, I still think it will be okay for pro golf players. I think itâs just a time of change, and most people donât like that.â
Of course, in addition to negotiating with the PIF, the PGA Tour struck a deal with the Strategic Sports Group (SSG) in early 2024. SSG is a consortium of American sports owners who have invested $1.5 billion into a newly established for-profit entity overseeing tour operations.
âItâs improving the product in so many areas,â Scott says of SSG.
âObviously, theyâre going to have to generate more revenue. Itâs the same as any business now because weâre an enterprise business with profit and loss, and theyâre going to try and generate more revenue, and probably going to try and reduce costs as well, you know. So Iâm sure theyâre looking at all of that as we speak.â
Whether the PGA Tour strikes a deal with the PIF remains to be seen, but golf fans should not expect an agreement or reunification any time soon. Instead, the tour will continue to grow its product through the guidance of SSG, which PGA Tour fans should welcome, considering the impressive footprint this consortium has across American sports.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nationâs Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.