The PGA Tour faces a fragile balancing act in welcoming again LIV Golf gamers whereas additionally guaranteeing those that stayed loyal to the U.S.-based circuit “feel good” about their determination, PGA Tour board member Jimmy Dunne stated.
Earlier this week, the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and rival Saudi-backed LIV circuit – who’ve been concerned in a bitter struggle that had cut up the game – introduced a shock settlement to merge and kind one unified industrial entity.
The merger left a bitter style within the mouth of gamers who caught with the PGA Tour regardless of the large signing bonuses provided by LIV Golf, with Rory McIlroy saying they have been made “sacrificial lambs” and needs to be compensated for his or her loyalty.
Dunne stated that when the “venom and self-centred concerns” are handled, they hoped they might discover a technique to reward their golfers whereas offering a pathway for LIV Golf gamers again to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
“As we get through that and we come up with a methodology that people can re-enter, when we establish what the criteria will be, there needs to be something that people that didn’t go (to LIV Golf)… feel good about it,” Dunne advised Golf Channel.
“I don’t want it to be so outrageously punitive in nature. I want to try to get a balance and make sure that while everyone’s needs are heard and felt that we do what’s right for the game.
“We have to make sure that whatever it is that we finalise, that they feel good about their decisions (to remain on the PGA Tour). I don’t think it’s going to be easy and I don’t think we’re all going to agree, but I think we can get there.”
Dunne, who helped dealer the merger, additionally stated the PGA Tour was able to “walk away” in the event that they felt there was something that might have damage the sport.
He added the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) wouldn’t management the skilled sport, particularly with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan put in as CEO of the brand new entity.
“By definition, as much as I liked the people I dealt with, the game of golf is too important, the legacy of the PGA Tour is too important,” Dunne added.
“The people that we have in place have too much experience that there’s no way on God’s green earth that we’re going to give up control.”