It’s been almost a month since LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil made that one claim. Needless to say, his claim “if you want to see the best players in the world, there’s only one place in the world, there’s only one place to see it — and that’s at LIV,” received a brutal response. Some fans didn’t even waste time in asking, “Do you hear yourself?” And the conversation still doesn’t seem to end, despite the news of a possible merger between the two. Recently, the PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan sat down for an exclusive interview with Golfweek, where he was also asked about it.
Does Monahan believe LIV Golf’s strategy has lost its potency? Jay Monahan was ready with a response. He named several players and insisted that the PGA Tour is gaining strength and momentum, regardless of what others, like LIV Golf, are doing.
“If you talk to players out here, if you look at Ludvig Aberg, at Luke Clanton, at Gordon Sargent, at Jackson Koivun, if you look at players on the Korn Ferry Tour trying to get one of those 20 cards, this is the highest expression of the game. This is where players have always wanted to play. I can’t speak to what anybody else is doing. I can only speak to what we’re doing and there’s real objective momentum behind this Tour.”
Of course, if that’s one thing Jay Monahan wants to be proud of, none of us can stop him. The PGA Tour is renowned for the number of benefits it gives to its players. It has a status as the highest-level tour, featuring the world’s top golfers like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Scottie Scheffler. Why would you not want to join them? It has a stronger global reach than LIV Golf and hosts major championships. Then you have sponsors lining up for the golfers, in addition to the tour offering free tickets to your family.
In the latest, the top 10 players in the final PGA Tour Uni Ranking will now receive exempt Korn Ferry Tour membership for the remainder of the season, an increase from the previous system where only the top five earned exempt status. This and more not only promises more exposure but also lucrative prizes. The PGA Tour has built a legacy for the good.
But how about taking a look at the players Monahan mentioned? The 25-year-old Ludvig Aberg is currently ranked 4 in the OWGR. He is tied for 15th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The 21-year-old Luke Clanton currently holds the 92nd rank in the OWGR. He recently secured his PGA Tour card after finishing tied for 18th at the Cognizant Classic.
The 21-year-old Gordon Sargent reached number 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2023. Consequently, he earned his PGA Tour card but decided to defer his membership to stick with the Vanderbilt Commodores. Jackson Koivun (19) is currently competing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he is tied for 15th.
Essentially, the future of the PGA Tour looks promising. But what’s making Jay Monahan so confident? LIV Golf’s highest-ranked players in OWGR are Tyrrell Hatton (9) and Bryson DeChambeau (11). These two are the only LIV players in the top 50. But more is at play.
The story of LIV Golf in the PGA Tour’s world
Undoubtedly, LIV Golf has a barrage of strong players. Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Joaquin Niemann, for instance. These are all talented golfers and major champions. But then again, much of the legacy these golfers created was outside LIV Golf. For instance, DeChambeau has become one of the most polarizing figures in golf because of his YouTube channel, social media presence, and U.S. Open victory back in 2024. Additionally, the PGA Tour players have claimed more victory in the majors since LIV Golf’s inception (8-2). On top of that, Data Golf rankings have just five LIV Golf players in the top 50.
There is a real argument to be made at LIV around great characters, they have a lot of them! There is no objectively sane argument to be made that LIV has the best players in the world or anything all that close to it. Data Golf has it at 5 of the top 50 right now. https://t.co/Z38xrlemDt
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) February 16, 2025
So, is LIV Golf losing money? Yes, and a lot of it. According to the report by Money in Sport, the upstart league lost nearly $400 million in 2023, despite a staggering $4 billion investment from the Saudi PIF with it possibly reaching $5 billion by the end of this year. The league’s operating costs are substantial as well, with per-tour expenses reaching $10 million in 2022. But there’s some good news, too. LIV Golf Adelaide emerged as a standout success, generating 45% of the league’s total revenue outside the US in 2023. But that’s a win within the league.
Unfortunately, it’s all ups and downs for this Saudi-backed league. The tour made major progress by reaching a broadcast deal with FOX Sports, and most of its individual teams are finding successful sponsors. However, the question is whether the league’s key players will renew their contracts now as it approaches expiration. Outside of everything else, that is the only thing that will decide its future.
But LIV Golf’s brightest player, Bryson DeChambeau, seems hopeful nonetheless, saying, “we aren’t going anywhere.” Regardless, if the merger goes forward, we are likely to see LIV Golf players against the PGA Tour players more often. And when that day comes: who do you think will take home more success?
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