Golf legend Tom Watson voices concerns about LIV Golf deal in open letter to PGA Tour Commissioner

Golf legend Tom Watson is the latest to express concerns regarding the recent deal struck between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The eight-time major champion wrote an open letter to commissioner Jay Monahan to address the matter.

Two weeks ago, it was announced that the PGA Tour would work with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), DP World Tour and LIV Golf moving forward. It was an announcement that stunned the sports world, given the PGA’s strong stance against LIV.

In his letter, shared by Golf Digest, Watson pointed out the hypocrisy in the Tour’s move.

“In my opinion, the communication has been mishandled and the process by which the Tour agreed on a proposed partnership with PIF was executed without due process,” Watson wrote. “As a group of players and stakeholders who represent the face and the brands of the Tour, what are our choices?

“Clearly, the Tour’s traditional business model was threatened by LIV. The upstart tour created unprecedented obstacles and battles of both moral and financial consequence.”

According to reports, Monahan told PGA Tour employees that it did not have the finances to continue its legal battle with LIV Golf. While that certainly makes sense, it’s not the only question Watson had regarding the change of heart.

“My overarching questions remain. Is the PIF the only viable rescue from the Tour’s financial problems? Was/is there a plan B? And again, what exactly is the exchange?” Watson asked. “We need clarity and deserve full disclosure as to the financial health of the PGA Tour and the details of this proposed partnership.”

PGA Tour didn’t notify players of merger

One of the big problems Watson eluded to in his letter was how the Tour failed on the communication front. Players that stuck by the PGA learned the news via social media.

PGA Tour star Collin Morikawa tweeted that he “loves finding out morning news on Twitter,” shortly after the announcement. Prior to the start of the U.S. Open, Jon Rahm said he found out via text.

“I was at home, taking care of the kids,” he said. “No, I was just having my normal morning, making coffee and breakfast and basically texts just started flowing in. I thought my phone was gonna catch on fire at one point. … I think, at one point, I told (my wife) Kelley, ‘I’m just gonna throw my phone in a drawer and not look at it for the next four hours because I can’t deal with it.’”

The entities plan to work together moving forward. What that looks like exactly? Nobody really can provide an answer. Hence Watson’s letter to Monahan, full of questions.