PGA vs. LIV Golf – The Battle for Golf’s Future
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have been at war for the last few years, dividing the sport like never before.
The rise of LIV Golf, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), introduced massive prize money, guaranteed contracts, and a new tournament format—leading to some of the biggest names in golf jumping ship from the PGA.
But was it worth it? And where do things stand now?
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💰 The Money War – How LIV Changed Golf Forever
Before LIV’s emergence, the PGA Tour controlled the pro golf world, offering large but non-guaranteed prize pools based on performance. Then came LIV Golf, shaking things up by offering:
💰 $25 million purses per event (compared to PGA’s lower totals)
💰 Guaranteed money contracts (players got paid regardless of how they played)
💰 Shorter events (54 holes vs. 72) and team formats
This forced the PGA Tour to increase prize money, creating events with $20 million purses to stay competitive.
⛳ Who Left the PGA for LIV – & What Happened Next?
Some of golf’s biggest stars took the LIV payday, including:
🔥 Phil Mickelson ($200M) – One of LIV’s biggest recruits and loudest voices.
🔥 Dustin Johnson ($125M) – Former world #1, now leading LIV’s biggest team.
🔥 Brooks Koepka ($100M) – Left the PGA but won the 2023 PGA Championship, proving he’s still elite.
🔥 Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Patrick Reed, and others
What happened to them? Banned from the PGA Tour, many saw their world rankings drop, hurting their chances to qualify for majors. However, with the 2023 Masters, U.S. Open, and PGA Championship allowing LIV players, the dynamic has shifted slightly.
📢 The Most Outspoken Critics of LIV
Not everyone was happy about LIV Golf. Some of the biggest PGA loyalists called it a “money grab” and criticized the Saudi ties.
👀 Rory McIlroy – LIV’s loudest critic, once said, “I’d rather retire than play for LIV.”
👀 Tiger Woods – Reportedly turned down $700M-$800M to join, calling LIV “bad for golf.”
👀 Jon Rahm (before he joined LIV in 2023) – Called LIV’s format boring before shockingly taking $500M to switch.
🎥 Watch the PGA vs. LIV Golf Rivalry Unfold!
🏆 The Current Situation – Can PGA & LIV Coexist?
In 2023, the PGA Tour shocked the world by announcing a merger with LIV, proving that money talks. But details are still unclear, and the division remains.
🔹 Will LIV players get back on the PGA Tour?
🔹 Will team golf formats take over?
🔹 What happens to the Ryder Cup and Majors?
One thing is certain—golf is now a business war, and bettors should watch the shifting dynamics closely.
💰 Betting Takeaways – What Does This Mean for Golf Betting?
📈 LIV Players Are Still Contenders – Koepka, Smith, and DJ are always threats in majors.
💰 Watch New Formats – Shorter tournaments mean different betting angles—adjust accordingly!
🔥 PGA-LIV Tension Affects Motivation – Some players are fueled by rivalry, making for intriguing head-to-head bets.
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| Title: PGA vs. LIV Golf – The Battle for Golf’s Future
| Author: Michael Rinnier
| Date: Mar 11, 2025
