What happened to Golf...LIV and the PGA matched together by a guy called PIF

The Middle Ground Disappears as Modern Sports Takes on a New Course.

Like two shy seniors at the school prom; they stood opposite one another not wanting to dance, then the lights dimmed, and before you can say "FORE," they're on their way to the parking lot—leaving the room speechless.

Indeed, it's true; they are coming together. I read it as ‘fake news’ this morning; now it's not so.

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf are set to be partners—and let's not forget the other sibling, the DP Tour.

It makes you wonder where modern sports are heading.

Is there any point in taking a position anymore? What significance does a morally objective view hold, or is the pursuit of personal success outweighing the traditional sense of allegiance or representing a specific team or governing body?

This is a question Rory McIlroy and many of his colleagues must be now asking themselves.

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In a world full of absolutes where the common middle ground has disappeared why should we be surprised at this resolution—if you want to call it that!

Come November 2024, American voters will be presented with two choices: Democratic or Republican. Independent candidates need not apply. The decision is unambiguous; it simply boils down to winning or losing. Why has there been such a dramatic shift to ‘black and white?"

Credit: SkySports and they need no introduction.

So who were the winners and losers from today's news?

First, the spin-doctors, who will be congratulating themselves on diffusing a ‘civil war’ that was surely set to break the game wide-open. "Golf is the winner," they will be pronouncing from their self-erected pulpits.

In fact, the ever-sacral R&A released a statement to this effect, saying the partnership was a "huge step forwards in ensuring that the sport continues to thrive." My mates in Manchester will rest easy tonight knowing the municipal will be open tomorrow!

Next, Phil Mickelson and Greg Norman?

Yes, I agree; both have had their fair share of knockers. Now, though, they can rehearse their "I told you so sermons" without fear of vindictive retribution (Brandel Chamblee will need to disarm himself).

And we must not forget the Saudis—bad things can happen.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and his Public Investment Fund (PIF) added another ‘must-have’ to their collection. They won for sure, playing the rest of the field like Chicago wiseguys.

Lastly, the LIV players who didn’t think twice about defecting to a cash-laden oasis. Presumably, now they will get their cake and be able to eat it later.

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And to the losers:

If Rory is pissed off, great. If not, he’s making too much cash. The impact of how unfairly he has been treated by the PGA Tour is incalculable. And he’s not Robinson Crusoe in this; there are any number of high-profile players who will be calling their lawyers today.

And where does Tiger Woods sit in all this?

Has Mickelson finally put one over on his nemesis, Woods, who tormented Mickelson forever and now appears to be on the receiving end?

But the real loser here is the sport of Golf.

Where else can you keep your own score, call penalties on yourself, and root for your fellow competitors (Marc Leishman and Adam Scott)? It’s unique.

Golf, though, was beaten by money.

It makes you wonder what the PGA Tour did when some of its finest defected?

Surely you would like to think there was internal audits of their operations, perhaps some questions directed to Jay Monahan on Mickelson’s seemingly outrageous claims. Possibly, a commitment to supporting the existing membership.

Hell no. Monahan had no time for any of that.

Instead some the PGA Tour’s most loyal and decorated players heard the news courtesy of Elon Musk. Collin Morikawa is as squeaky clean as it gets. He has not stepped out of line as either an amateur or professional; and he gets to read the news on Twitter! Come on.

Winning a war when your general is trading secrets with the enemy has to be tricky. There is little doubt left that Monahan sold out on his soldiers, leaving Rory and co. to fight with blunt bayonets—let’s hope their pension funds are topped up in lieu of their misguided loyalties.

The Tour is in Toronto for the Canadian Open this week, one of its most celebrated tournaments. Commissioner Monahan—soon to be changed; that’s the commissioner bit—will have plenty of explaining to do to anyone who wants to listen.

I, for one, will not be listening to his BS, and I hope the Tour rank and file vote with their feet.

Moe Norman would be laughing his socks off!