Do LIV Golf and the PGA Tour have to unite? There are different answers to that question. Considering the obvious advantage the PGA Tour has over the Saudi-backed circuit – including viewership numbers and sponsors – many believe the U.S. circuit should determine the end goal of this conversation. Of course, that also means blaming LIV golfers for jumping ship, as Scottie Scheffler did at the Colonial: “I have said it a few times this year. If you want to figure out what’s going to happen in the game of golf, go to the other tour and ask those guys.” Not the first time, however, even though another Tour pro has a different opinion.

Ahead of the Masters Tournament, while Scheffler admitted that he missed competition against some “pretty good players on their tour,” he also frustratedly added, “If we want to figure out why the game of golf is not back together, go ask those guys.” The point? Everyone is tired of this conversation, even Viktor Hovland.

Currently present in Ohio for The Memorial Tournament, Hovland couldn’t hide his “weird” feeling about the stalled merger talks and the divide in the golf world. “Yeah, it’s kind of weird. I basically turned pro right in the middle of COVID, and that’s five years ago, and it’s like — yeah, it just feels weird. It feels like it almost didn’t happen anymore. It’s like we’re in a different timeline right now. Yeah, things have definitely gone fast, but then we’re still kind of in the same position, kind of in a stalemate. So it’s a little bit weird, but certainly miss some of those guys. But, yeah, got to focus on my things this week.” 

However, Hovland’s comments also stem from a lack of transparency at the Tour regarding the “Framework Agreement.” In 2023, shortly after Jon Rahm joined LIV Golf, Hovland remarked that he completely understood why Rahm left, noting that it was “a lot, a lot of money.” He also criticized the Tour’s management, stating that they had not done a good job and that they almost viewed the players as labor rather than as part of the membership.

However, of course, Hovland will find more opposing views in the Tour than similar ones. Take Rory McIlroy, for instance. The Irishman agreed that “it takes two to tango,” however, he also believes that the PGA Tour isn’t in any state where it requires the merger. “I think the narrative around golf would welcome a deal in terms of just having all the best players together again. But I don’t think the PGA Tour needs a deal. I think the momentum is pretty strong.” 

LIV Golf struggles to compete with the PGA Tour in market scale, as recent TV ratings indicate. The LIV event in Korea from May 2–4 attracted only 30,000 viewers on Friday, 59,000 on Saturday, and 48,000 on Sunday, while the final round of the CJ Cup drew 2.918 million viewers, meaning LIV Golf fell short by over 60 times. Meanwhile, the PGA Tour thrives with strong sponsor confidence, as Commissioner Jay Monahan announced 14 sponsorship deals worth $400 million in the last quarter, a 143% increase over 2024, bringing total commitments to $4 billion over the next 10 years. However, the new LIV Golf policy could likely delay merger talks once again, considering the contract expirations (and more).

LIV Golf contract renewals will not offer big money

The recent change in policy at LIV Golf could significantly impact the league and its players, especially with ongoing merger talks with the PGA Tour. LIV Golf has announced that contract renewals will no longer include the large upfront payments that initially attracted stars like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau. This change marks a major shift in LIV’s approach, which previously relied on financial incentives to attract top players.

Dustin Johnson, whose contract ends in 2025, will now negotiate under different terms than his original estimated $200 million deal. Koepka and DeChambeau, whose contracts expire in December 2026, signed for about $130 million and $125 million, respectively. With the PGA Tour now offering $20 million purses for Signature Events, the earnings gap is closing, which may lead players to rethink their decision to leave the PGA Tour for quick money.

Moreover, LIV Golf does not provide OWGR points, meaning players miss out on chances to qualify for the Ryder Cup, complicating their career paths. As guaranteed money disappears from contract renewals, players need to weigh their long-term careers against reduced financial security. This policy change coincides with ongoing merger discussions, adding uncertainty for both LIV Golf and its players. Certainly, if the Saudi-backed league loses its players because of the money matters, the PGA Tour will have more say in the merger talk.