Ava Romero
The Saudi-backed LIV Golf league has attracted several PGA Tour golfers with lucrative contracts, leading to accusations of selling out. Notable defectors include major champions Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have since announced a merger, causing controversy among players and fans who question the ethics of associating with Saudi Arabia due to its human rights record. This move has significant implications for the future of professional golf, with some fearing that it will be reduced to a shell of what it once was.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| LIV Golf sellouts | Talor Gooch, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy |
| Reason | Money |
| PGA Tour's response | Argued that golfers were still under contract to the PGA and couldn't cash in on generational wealth |
| LIV Golf's response | Hand-waving away their participation in the indefensible |
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What You'll Learn
Jon Rahm's hypocrisy
Jon Rahm has been labelled a hypocrite and a sellout for his decision to defect from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf. For years, Rahm was one of the PGA Tour's staunchest defenders, arguing for the tradition and history of the Tour and stating that he had no interest in joining LIV Golf, which he did not consider to be "real" golf.
In July, Rahm reiterated his commitment to the PGA Tour, stating, "I already make an amazing living doing what I do. I'm extremely thankful, and that all happened because of the platform the PGA Tour provided me. [...] As far as I'm concerned, they've done enough for me, and their focus should be on improving the PGA Tour and the game of golf for future generations."
However, in December 2023, Rahm abandoned his previous stance and joined LIV Golf, a move that has been widely criticised as a betrayal of his former values. This decision has been attributed to financial motivations, as LIV Golf is backed by Saudi Arabia, which has been accused of using sportswashing to distract from its poor human rights record.
Rahm's hypocrisy lies in his sudden shift from defending the PGA Tour to defecting to its rival, LIV Golf, despite his previous criticisms of the latter. This change of heart has been interpreted as prioritizing financial gain over the values and traditions he once espoused, aligning him with other golfers who have been labelled "sellouts" for their pursuit of lucrative contracts with LIV Golf.
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PGA Tour's sellout to Saudi blood money
The PGA Tour has been accused of selling out to Saudi blood money after merging with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league. LIV Golf is a rival league that was founded in 2021 with billions of dollars from a fund controlled by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi royal family has been looking for opportunities to enter the world of golf and modelled LIV after a proposed "Super League" in soccer, using their financial might to poach stars.
The PGA Tour had previously banned golfers who joined LIV, citing concerns about Saudi Arabia's human rights record. However, after months of legal battles, the PGA Tour agreed to merge with LIV Golf, ending the squabble. This merger has been criticised as a shameless sellout, with the PGA Tour compromising the integrity of the sport for financial gain.
LIV Golf has attracted several high-profile golfers, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Sergio Garcia, with eye-popping contracts. These golfers have been accused of abandoning the PGA Tour for a pile of cash, betraying their fellow PGA Tour players, and accepting blood money.
Some golfers, like Jon Rahm, who was once an ardent defender of the PGA Tour, have also jumped ship to LIV Golf, despite previously criticising it as a shameless money grab. This has led to accusations of hypocrisy and sellout behaviour.
The Saudi government has been accused of using sports to distract from its abhorrent human rights record, including the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the war in Yemen, the persecution of dissidents, and the subjugation of women and LGBTQ+ people. Despite these concerns, the PGA Tour's merger with LIV Golf indicates a willingness to prioritise financial gains over ethical considerations.
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LIV Golf's shameless money grab
LIV Golf is a Saudi-backed golf tour that has been described as a "shameless money grab". It is funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has invested almost $1 billion into the league. The PIF's goal was to model LIV Golf after a proposed "Super League" in soccer, using their financial might to poach stars from the PGA Tour with eye-popping contracts.
Several prominent golfers have been criticised for defecting to LIV Golf, including two-time major champion Jon Rahm, who had previously been one of the PGA Tour's staunchest defenders. Other notable names include Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Sergio Garcia. These golfers have been labelled sellouts and hypocrites for abandoning the PGA Tour for lucrative contracts with LIV Golf, despite the human rights controversies surrounding Saudi Arabia.
The PGA Tour's merger with LIV Golf and the PIF has been met with shock and disappointment by many. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, who had previously criticised the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour, has been accused of selling out and backstabbing his players. The merger has also caused confusion and frustration among PGA Tour players, some of whom only learned of the news through social media.
LIV Golf events have struggled to attract viewers, with abysmal ratings and some stations opting to air infomercials or reruns instead of tournaments. Despite this, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has expressed confidence in the league's future, stating that it is "here to stay".
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Phil Mickelson's legal claims
Phil Mickelson, along with 10 other LIV golfers, filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour. The lawsuit accuses the PGA Tour of anticompetitive practices and restraint of trade. The golfers claim that the PGA Tour is a "monopolist" that is preventing them from playing when and where they choose.
The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, seeks to challenge the suspensions handed out to the golfers for participating in LIV Golf events. The PGA Tour had announced that any player who participated in a LIV Golf event without obtaining a conflicting-event release would be indefinitely suspended.
Mickelson, who was among the first golfers to join LIV Golf, was reportedly suspended by the PGA Tour on March 23, 2022, due to his recruitment of players for LIV Golf. This suspension was not disclosed by either the PGA Tour or Mickelson at the time.
The lawsuit also makes claims about the involvement of Augusta National, alleging that representatives were present at an "emergency meeting" following the initial announcement of LIV Golf's first field. It is alleged that Fred Ridley, of Augusta National, instructed participants in the 2022 Masters not to play in the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
The LIV golfers involved in the lawsuit argue that they will be injured if they are unable to play in future tournaments and that this harm outweighs any potential harm to the PGA Tour. However, critics argue that the golfers simply abandoned the PGA Tour for higher financial gains and that their legal arguments are baseless.
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LIV Golf's merger with the PGA Tour
The potential merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour has been a highly discussed topic in the golfing world since the controversial launch of LIV Golf in 2021 (or 2022, according to some sources). The breakaway of LIV Golf caused a "civil war" in men's professional golf, as they poached top stars from the PGA Tour, including Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, and Cameron Smith. In response, the PGA Tour banned players who made the jump to LIV, causing a rift in the sport.
LIV Golf is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), with plans to become the best golf tour in the world. In 2023 (or June 2023, according to ESPN), a framework agreement was reached between the PGA Tour and PIF, where both sides ceased legal action and pledged to work towards a deal that would heal the fractures in the sport. However, as of March 2025, it seems that a merger is not close to being finalized. While PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, and others have expressed optimism, former World No. 1 Rory McIlroy, who was once a staunch advocate of the PGA Tour, believes that the PGA Tour should not rush into a deal. He cites the PGA Tour's momentum, including rising TV ratings and the success of their top players, as reasons why a reunification agreement is not immediately necessary.
Despite this, McIlroy acknowledges that, in the long term, an agreement that allows the best players from both sides to compete against each other more frequently is essential for the health of the sport. This sentiment is shared by many fans, who are frustrated by the restricted opportunities for leading stars from both tours to battle it out in the same field. However, as of April 2025, eight-time major championship winner Tom Watson expressed doubts about a reunification, stating that there are too many obstacles for the PGA Tour to reach a deal with the PIF.
The negotiations between the two tours have been protracted, and while there is a desire to reunify men's professional golf, it seems that a merger is not imminent.
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Frequently asked questions
These golfers were staunch supporters of the PGA Tour and critics of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour. However, they eventually defected to the LIV Golf Tour, lured by lucrative financial incentives. This is despite Saudi Arabia's questionable human rights record and the PGA Tour's commissioner, Jay Monahan's, previous criticism of the country's treatment of women, gay people, and journalists.
The LIV Golf Tour is a Saudi-backed rival league to the PGA Tour. It is funded by the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has invested heavily in sports ventures, including soccer and golf. The PIF has a majority stake in Newcastle United and has sponsored major events such as the 2023 Women's World Cup.
The merger was likely influenced by the significant financial incentives offered by Saudi Arabia's PIF. This decision shocked many PGA Tour players and fans, who viewed it as a betrayal and a prioritization of monetary gain over the tradition and history of the PGA Tour.
The merger has been met with criticism and disappointment. Some have called it a "sellout" and a hostile takeover, suggesting that the PGA Tour prioritized monetary gains over its values and traditions. Players who were loyal to the PGA Tour feel betrayed, and some have taken legal action, filing an antitrust suit against the PGA Tour.
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