LIV Golf player remains optimistic on PIF x PGA merger

LIV Golf star Graeme McDowell is confident that the future of golf is bright. The PIF merger with the PGA Tour seemed to finally break through the dark cloud that hung over the sport, but that was agreed to in June of 2023. Since then, virtually no progress has been made.

The President of the United States even got involved, and the light at the end of the tunnel still looks distant. Despite that, McDowell believes things are going in the right direction and that a resolution is coming sooner than later.

Graeme McDowell of LIV Golf upbeat about golf’s future

Graeme McDowell believes golf is finally beginning to turn a corner towards its future. The LIV Golf star said to BBC, “I’m really excited that things are going on to try and repair the damage that’s been done and bring the best players in the world back together more often.”

He parrotted the take that so many, including PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, have given when they’re asked what the future holds. Monahan said he wants to reunify the sport and have all the best players on one Tour. McDowell said he believes that’s in the sport’s best interest, especially as it relates to TV sponsors, fans, and more.

“What that means and what that looks like is something we don’t know but I think everyone is very optimistic and hopefully the future of golf is bright,” he admitted. McDowell was one of the earliest defectors. He signed on with LIV in 2022 when the league was first forming.

His decision to do so made it harder to qualify for Major tournaments, something that remains “extremely important” to McDowell. “I’ve got a busy enough six months coming up but the major championships remain the most important events in the world,” he said.

Playing on LIV doesn’t always bring about a lot of opportunities to get into Majors, but there are chances elsewhere. He added, “I’ve done all I can in the past three or four years to qualify for the Open and the US Open via the different routes and with the Open being at Portrush this year, it cranks up the intensity a little bit higher for me.”

In the future, if golf does come back together as McDowell is hopeful, then he might not have to worry as much about Major qualification. He might have a much easier time in the post-merger world of playing in those four annual tournaments that mean so much to him and others.