TORONTO, June 6 (Reuters) - PGA Tour players were blindsided by news of a merger with the rebel Saudi-backed LIV Golf on Tuesday that left them, fans and politicians demanding answers.
A bitter feud that had divided the sport for almost two years ended without warning when the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf announced a shock agreement to merge and form one unified commercial entity.
"I’m guessing the liv teams were struggling to get sponsors and pga tour couldn’t turn down the money.
Rickie Fowler, Will Zalatoris and Hideki Matsuyama were all reported to have been offered over $100 million to jump to LIV Golf until Monahan pleaded with them to stick with the PGA Tour.
Golf fans took to social media, many blasting the PGA Tour for its hypocrisy.
Persons:
LIV Golf, liv, Jay Monahan, Rickie Fowler, Will Zalatoris, Hideki Matsuyama, Monahan, Adam Hadwin, Charlotte ,, Peter Casey, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, LIV, Chris Murphy, Saudi LIV, Terry Strada, Steve Keating, Toby Davis
Organizations:
TORONTO, PGA, Twitter, Win, PGA Tour, USA, of Fame, Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Democratic, Golf, Tour, United, LIV, Saudi shills, Thomson
Locations:
Saudi, Canada, Charlotte, Charlotte , North Carolina, USA, American, Connecticut, United States, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Toronto