Jack Nicklaus is thankful the infighting is coming to a close.
Nicklaus, who said he was offered but turned down $100 million to be the CEO of the LIV Golf series and said LIV Golf “wasn’t for me,” reacted to the stunning news Tuesday that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will merge.
“The last three years have been difficult for the game and the players,” said Nicklaus. “I spoke with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan this morning. He seemed pleased with the arrangement that will once again bring together the best players in the world. I agree that this is good for the game of golf.
“I also appreciate the commissioner’s comments about continuing the tradition of the Tour and the mission to support important charitable causes. I am certainly interested in seeing the details. Jay indicated that this all will happen in 2024, so very soon the proof will be in the pudding. Whatever is best for the game of golf enjoys my full support.”
Nicklaus spoke about the breakaway tour a week ago before the Memorial Tournament. He was asked if he was disappointed not to have winners of two of the last four majors — Brooks Koepka, who won the PGA Championship, and LIV’s Cam Smith, last year’s British Open champion — in the field.
“I don’t even consider those guys part of the game anymore,” he said. “I don’t mean that in a nasty way. This is a PGA Tour event, and we have the best field we can possibly have for a PGA Tour event for those who are eligible to be here. The other guys made a choice of what they did and where they’ve gone and we don’t even talk about it.
“There were certain players that it was probably the right thing for,” Nicklaus said of those who joined LIV. “It probably spurred the PGA Tour, I don’t think there’s any question about that, either, to move it to greater heights. But it wasn’t for me, it wasn’t for what my legacy was. Obviously, I pretty much started what the tour is out here.”
Nicklaus told the Fire Pit Collective he met with representatives of LIV Golf during the early stages of LIV’s planning. That meeting, Nicklaus said, was out of courtesy because he has been involved with the group in a golf course deal for a few years.
“I don’t care what kind of money they would have thrown at me,” Nicklaus said in that interview. “My allegiance has been to the PGA Tour. I grew up on the PGA Tour. I helped found the PGA Tour as it is today.”
The tournament Nicklaus founded has also released a statement.
“This morning we learned of the PGA TOUR, LIV Golf and DP World Tour coming together under common ownership,” Memorial Tournament executive director Dan Sullivan said. “The conflict that has existed over the past three years between professional golf and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been challenging for all involved in the game, and now, through today’s announcement the top players in the world are part of one organization.
“Although there are many unanswered questions, we are confident the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, which just concluded a successful 48th edition, will remain a centerpiece of the PGA TOUR and professional golf. The Tournament will continue to focus on showcasing world-class competition and supporting charitable organizations in Central Ohio and beyond.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Tom D’Angelo is senior sports columnist for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Golf great Jack Nicklaus shares reaction to merger of LIV and PGA