Jack Nicklaus has surprising reaction to PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is whistling a different tune after the PGA Tour-LIV Golf mergeron Tuesday. Nicklaus, who previously said the LIV Golf league wasnt for me, said Tuesday he believes the controversial merger is good for the sport.

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Golf legend Jack Nicklaus is whistling a different tune after the PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger on Tuesday.

Nicklaus, who previously said the LIV Golf league “wasn’t for me,” said Tuesday he believes the controversial merger is good for the sport.

“The last three years have been difficult for the game and the players,” Nicklaus said, according to The Palm Beach Post, adding that he spoke with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan on Tuesday 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.”

Nicklaus went on to explain that his full support lies in what is best for the game.

“I also appreciate the commissioner’s comments about continuing the tradition of the Tour and the mission to support important charitable causes,” the 83-year-old continued. “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.”

Jack Nicklaus speaks during the trophy ceremony of the 48th Memorial Tournament presented by Workday at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, USA on Sunday, June 4, 2023. NurPhoto via Getty Images
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan waits to speak at the closing ceremony for the 2022 Presidents Cup on September 25, 2022 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Nicklaus’ comments came just a week after he seemingly dismissed LIV Golf defectors before the PGA Tour’s 2023 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

When asked by Golfweek if he was disappointed not to have winners of two of the last four majors — LIV’s Brooks Koepka and Cam Smith — on the course, Nicklaus didn’t sugarcoat his response.

“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.”

In July 2022, Nicklaus pledged his support for the PGA Tour after he was asked about his friend and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman being disinvited by the Royal & Ancient to the 150th British Open at St. Andrews last year.

Everything to know about the PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger

PGA Tour and LIV Golf are ending a war — by joining forces.

The two golf leagues, along with the European DP World Tour, are merging into one company after a period of fierce rivalry, one where LIV Golf defectors were banned from competing on the Tour.

LIV, financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund and led by legendary golfer Greg Norman, lured some of the top names in golf last year with reported nine-figure contracts, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.

Other huge golf names, however, like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, stayed loyal to the Tour, despite being offered a massive amount of money.

Follow The Post’s coverage of the PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger

Norman said last year Woods turned down a payday in the range of $700 million-$800 million to stick with the PGA Tour.

With the merger, the Saudi-backed LIV and the Tour are ending an antitrust battle and agreed to end all litigation between the two sides.

“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. “This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA TOUR’s history, legacy and pro-competitive model.”

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At the time, the tournament officials determined that Norman — a two-time past Open champion — would be a distraction due to his involvement with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour.

“Unfortunately, he and I just don’t see eye-to-eye in what’s going on [with LIV Golf]. I’ll basically leave it at that,” Nicklaus said at the time.

Separately, Nicklaus previously said he turned down millions of dollars from Saudi investors to join LIV Golf in a similar role to Norman’s.

Greg Norman Commissioner and CEO of LIV Golf speaks during the press conference ahead of Liv Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Club on April 20, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. Getty Images

“I was offered something in excess of $100 million by the Saudis, to do the job probably similar to the one that Greg is doing,” Nicklaus told the Fire Pit Collective in May 2022.

“I turned it down. Once verbally, once in writing. I said, ‘Guys, I have to stay with the PGA Tour. I helped start the PGA Tour.’”

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