Can LIV Golf still poach players from the PGA Tour?
By Matt Chivers
Within the commotion surrounding the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund’s agreement, there has been less chatter about which players could yet join LIV Golf.
Discovering who joined the Saudi-backed series was part of its intrigue to begin with, but can players still join Greg Norman’s ranks as part of the organisations’ new deal?
As reported by the New York Times, the Department of Justice reviewed the agreement and judged the tours’ joint promise not to recruit each other’s players as concerning.
The non-solicitation clause said the PGA Tour nor LIV Golf would “enter into any contract, agreement or understanding with” any “players who are members of the other’s tour or organisation.”
But this has now changed. The clause to prevent players from moving sides has been removed.
“The Framework Agreement sets the stage for an exciting future for professional golf that re-establishes competition at the highest levels of the sport and creates the biggest stage for everyone – players, sponsors, and fans,” the tour said in a statement.
“Based on discussions with staff at the Department of Justice, we chose to remove specific language from the Framework Agreement. While we believe the language is lawful, we also consider it unnecessary in the spirit of cooperation and because all parties are negotiating in good faith.”
The likes of Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, and Louis Oosthuizen have been with LIV Golf since its first event at Centurion in June, 2022, but the circuit made a number of high-profile signings thereafter too.
Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Patrick Reed were among others to join, while Norman has previously alluded to more players wanting to make the switch.
Some players have resigned from their memberships to the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour after joining LIV, but the new agreement with the PIF suggests there could be a pathway for these players to return.
NOW READ: Rory McIlroy ‘would retire’ if LIV Golf was last playing option
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
