General view of the rear of the 18th and 9th hole PGA Tour grand stands before the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament at TPC Louisiana. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Is the PGA Tour's proposed merger with LIV Golf dead?

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 11/6/23

November is typically a quiet time in the professional golf world with just a few events peppering the calendar. Of course, 2023 is a bit different.

The door has been opened for PGA Tour players to participate in a LIV Golf qualifying event, and this comes as the deadline looms for a deal between the PGA and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to get done.

PGA golfers playing in a LIV Golf event will certainly be interesting, but that deal — which would put the PGA and rival circuit LIV under the same umbrella — could be in jeopardy.

That shadow of doubt was cast this week as news broke that Fenway Sports Group has been in conversations with the PGA about joining forces.

According to CNBC, Fenway chairman Tom Werner "has held talks with the PGA Tour" and the group "could come through with an offer that could top the Saudis’ bid."

Does this mean that the proposed union between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is officially dead?

Fenway Group Chairman Tom Werner confirms to @ScottWapnerCNBC they have had conversations with the @PGATOUR. "Anything we can do to help Rory or the PGA Tour, we're happy to offer our support." pic.twitter.com/ihe0Ywfi4B
— Jess Golden (@JGolden5) November 6, 2023

For starters, the proposed merger back in June was never a done deal. As YardBarker reported over the summer, the "framework agreement" was a proposal and not set in stone, and there were a lot of details that needed to be ironed out before the PGA and the PIF officially joined forces.

Now, with less than two months to go to the New Year's Eve deadline to get an agreement together, the PGA Tour and the PIF don't appear to be any closer to making a deal.

Remember, the thought behind the merger was to combat the ongoing legal feud between the rival golf leagues, which the PIF has plenty of money to fund.

If the PGA Tour has an investor that can offer even more than the PIF, it's fair to assume commissioner Jay Monahan would jump on it.

CNBC: Fenway chairman confirms talks with PGA Tour as doubts grow about LIV Golf deal pic.twitter.com/UTiHIIa1Mg
— News and Market (@newsandmarket) November 6, 2023

So where does that leave LIV Golf? And what happens with PGA players playing in LIV's qualifying event if the two sides aren't going to merge?

Since the qualifying event takes place in December before the proposed deal is supposed to get done, there shouldn't be an impact on whether PGA golfers can still participate.

Whether that builds some goodwill between the PGA and LIV — especially if there isn't a merger — remains to be seen, especially with Fenway now in the picture.

As always, stay tuned

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