Speaking at CNBC's CEO Forum, world No. 2 Rory McIlroy said the possibility of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf finding common ground is remote, as the Saudi Arabia-backed tournament continues to maintain a spending level he described as "unreasonable."
“You can see some other sports that have been so divided for so long,” McIlroy said. “Look at boxing, or motor racing in the US. With golf, unity is definitely better. But with what has happened in the last few years, I think it will be extremely difficult to do that.”
McIlroy’s prediction of a reunification of the professional golf scene in the near future is not without foundation. According to The Athletic, LIV Golf has lost more than $1.4 billion in its first four years of operation, but continues to “pump money” into the tournament system. The 2024 prize money alone has reached $400 million, a figure no other tournament can approach.
Many of LIV Golf’s blockbuster early contracts are coming to an end. Stars like Dustin Johnson are said to have agreed to extensions, while Bryson DeChambeau is also expected to sign on soon. Not stopping there, LIV Golf has announced plans to increase the number of holes to 72 from 2026 in pursuit of World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.
To date, LIV Golf has paid out nearly $1.4 billion directly to golfers. The Athletic estimates that total investment in the system exceeds $4.89 billion, more than triple the prize money they spent, and continues to rise.
For McIlroy, this is what makes any merger talks impossible. “As supporters of the traditional structure of men’s professional golf, we have to acknowledge that LIV Golf has behaved in a somewhat irrational way in its capital allocation and level of spending,” McIlroy said.
“They haven’t been profitable for four or five years, but they still have to spend money to maintain the current system. Many contracts will expire and golfers will want to stay at the same level or higher. LIV Golf has spent about $5-6 billion and will have to spend another $5-6 billion just to stay in the same position.”
Despite claiming he is “much more comfortable on the PGA Tour side”, McIlroy left open the possibility of joining LIV Golf: “Who knows what could happen in the future?”
Source: https://tienphong.vn/rory-mcilroy-gay-soc-khong-loai-tru-kha-nang-gia-nhap-liv-golf-post1800191.tpo
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