PGA Tour players are feeling the pressure. For those who already struggle to make it into the Tour’s signature events, the looming arrival of LIV golfers has them on edge. On camera, many players keep it diplomatic, but, behind the scenes, the tension is palpable. Just look at Joel Dahmen. The 37-year-old started his round at Vidanta Vallarta with a smooth, bogey-free 3-under, but when as he spoke with Damon Hack of Golf Central, his anxiety was clear. While the PGA Tour’s decision-makers are off meeting with Donald Trump, making progress in rebuilding ties with LIV Golf, Dahmen and others are left wondering about their futures.
“I just hope I keep getting tee times,” he said, trying to stay positive. But deep down, he knows that for players like him—a one-time winner—the path to big paydays is getting tighter by the day. Hack echoed the feeling, noting that there’s a growing sense of stress among players, especially as the field for the eight Signature events shrinks even further. If LIV pros return, it’s only going to get harder to break through. As the pressure builds, a golf insider is shedding light on the deeper issues at play, revealing the harsh reality behind the PIF merger deal and the mounting stress several PGA Tour pros are facing.
In the latest episode of 5 Clubs on Golf Channel, Josh Carpenter compared the situation with the NHL lockout. “This is 2025 we’re sitting in, they’ve been talking almost 2 and a half years about making this happen and I told you before we came on the air. Think about the NHL lockout of 2004 2005”. The 2004-05 NHL lockout began after the collective bargaining agreement expired on September 16, 2004, due to disagreements over a salary cap. The players’s union opposed it, proposing revenue sharing instead. The lockout lasted 10 months, canceling the entire season, including 1,230 games, and for the first time since 1919, no Stanley Cup was awarded.
The dispute ended in July 2005 with a new CBA that included, both a salary cap and revenue sharing. He even stated that they were able to get what they desired because they locked out everyone. But for golf, according to him, there is also a similar solution. “Obviously golf’s in a little bit of a different situation but like lock the players out that’s how we’re going to get a deal done. tell them there’s no PGA Tour golf, there’s no Majors; it’s obviously not gonna happen, but let’s put something in front of these guys that say this is going to happen if you don’t come to this deal, if you don’t bring these parties back together”.
While there is already so much tension around the atmosphere, the upcoming weeks will be all the more testing grounds for both leagues. Especially for LIV to see if they have been as grand as they say they are.
The PLAYERS Championship will be colliding with LIV Golf Singapore
The 2025 PLAYERS Championship and LIV Golf Singapore are both scheduled for March 2025, creating a clash for players. The PLAYERS Championship will be held from March 13 to 16 at TPC Sawgrass, offering a $25 million purse. At the same time, LIV Golf Singapore takes place from March 14 to 16 at Sentosa Golf Club. Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard reported that LIV golfers might be allowed to compete at the PLAYERS Championship this year. Taking to this, Josh Carpenter was asked if the PLAYERS was going to be a platform where they would make the grand merger announcement.
“I mean I could see that. Certainly, that’s the PGA Tour’s biggest moment right. Rex Hoggard mentioned that a LIV player told him that potentially a LIV player could compete in the PLAYERS Championship. I think if you look at these two parties potentially becoming Partners in the future LIV has an event in Singapore that week”, added Carpenter. He very significantly added that he could see that being the case, especially because of the collision. “that would make sense. I don’t think Augusta National would love for anything to happen in the weeks running up to the Masters,” he added.
However, Flushing It pointed out that LIV players are contractually committed to play in Singapore that same week, missing an important context. They wrote, “One huge bit of context is missing here, LIV Golf Singapore is that same week and all LIV Golfers are contracted to play.”
Do you think such a prolonged merger can be announced as early as March? Stay tuned to find out more updates about it.
The post Golf Insider Adds to PGA Tour Pros’ ‘Anxiety and Stress’ as LIV Golf Merger Deal’s ‘Lock Up’ Plan Exposes appeared first on EssentiallySports.
