This Might Have Been the Biggest Waste of Time and Money in the History of Golf

"After nearly four years of fighting, including a brief period in which the parties looked close to a truce, the PGA Tour is on the verge of finishing off LIV Golf as any kind of serious player in the global golf scene. This week's big development is the PGA Tour's reacquisition of Brooks Koepka, one of the most famous players in the world and the key piece of LIV's poaching strategy that began in 2022. After spending the last few years playing for the Saudis, Koepka is returning to his old tour this month. He'll miss out on equity in a new PGA Tour venture, donate $5 million to charity, and get back to his life."

"Koepka's return does two things that are very bad for the Saudi-backed influence operation-cum-golf tour. First, it robs the tour of one of its few marketable stars, and one of even fewer who can still contend in events golf fans actually care about. Second, it lays the groundwork for the PGA Tour to reclaim some or all of the other players who defected to LIV who might move the needle with the general public."

"In one corner will be the PGA Tour. In the other, the Saudis will now have to decide whether they're comfortable continuing LIV Golf as a circus act or if it's time to cut their losses and spin them as a victory. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will not take control of elite professional golf, but he may take some measure of pride that his doomed tour cost the PGA Tour a lot of money."

After nearly four years of competition, the PGA Tour appears poised to eliminate LIV Golf as a meaningful global competitor. The PGA Tour's reacquisition of Brooks Koepka removes a marquee star from LIV and undermines LIV's strategy of poaching top players. Koepka will forgo equity in a new PGA venture, donate $5 million to charity, and return to PGA events. His return reduces LIV's marketable talent and creates momentum to reclaim other defectors. The 2023 framework will not unify the tours, leaving Saudi backers to sustain an uncompetitive spectacle or accept heavy losses.

Read at Slate Magazine