The PGA Tour and LIV Golf ended 2024 much as they began it: without a definitive agreement to unify men’s professional golf. Despite a self-imposed deadline of December 31, 2023, no deal was reached between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), LIV’s financial backer. This uncertainty has persisted even as rumors suggested progress, leaving 2024 with unresolved questions about merging the tours, penalizing defectors, and compensating loyal PGA players. While some answers have emerged, the larger issue of a unified future remains unresolved.
Key developments in 2024 included a $1.5 billion investment in the PGA Tour by the Strategic Sports Group (SSG), a U.S.-based consortium. SSG acquired equity in a newly formed for-profit entity, PGA Tour Enterprises, which may become the PIF’s investment vehicle if a deal is finalized. A significant portion of this investment—$930 million—was allocated to compensate PGA Tour players who had turned down lucrative LIV offers. Meanwhile, LIV continued to poach top talent, signing major names like Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton while hosting high-profile events, including a U.S. tournament in Las Vegas coinciding with Super Bowl LVIII.
Throughout the year, rumors of progress in negotiations surfaced, particularly around major golf events like the Masters and The Players Championship. However, the timeline for a resolution was repeatedly delayed, with no clarity even as the PGA Tour season concluded. Despite the ongoing uncertainty, LIV players like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka made headlines with major championship wins, demonstrating their ability to compete on golf’s biggest stages despite LIV’s unconventional format of three-day, no-cut tournaments.
Tensions between the two tours continued to impact global golf events. LIV players were excluded from PGA-operated tournaments like the Presidents Cup and were a divisive topic in Ryder Cup team discussions. In a symbolic moment, LIV stars DeChambeau and Koepka faced off against PGA Tour champions Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler in a made-for-TV event, underscoring the rivalry between the tours. Both organizations also saw executive shakeups, with LIV preparing to replace CEO Greg Norman and the PGA Tour launching a search for a CEO to work closely with new investors and potentially the PIF.
As the year ends, the future of golf remains uncertain, though it is clear that significant changes are on the horizon. The PGA Tour is set to start its 2025 season in Maui, while LIV plans to kick off in Saudi Arabia. A potential TV deal with Fox remains in negotiation, adding to the list of unresolved issues. As the saga continues into 2025, the question persists: Will this be the year the PGA Tour and LIV finally reach a resolution, or will the limbo continue into yet another December?
