Saudi-backed LIV Golf agrees to merge with PGA Tour after year of unprecedented disruption

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf have agreed to merge commercial operations under common ownership, the PGA Tour has announced.

A shock announcement came out of the blue after a year of unprecedented disruption in the men’s professional game following the launch of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit.

Players including Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson had defected from the “establishment” PGA Tour to the controversial LIV tour, causing high-profile feuds with loyalist stars such as Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm.