Paul McGinley, a former European Ryder Cup captain and commentator, has proposed a “Proposal for Unity” aimed at fostering more competition between the best golfers from different tours, particularly the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. McGinley believes that if the top players compete more frequently, it will generate greater fan interest in the sport. While neither the PGA Tour nor the Saudi-backed LIV Golf (Public Investment Fund) has presented a formal plan for cooperation, McGinley has put forward his own idea to bring the tours closer together without merging them completely.
McGinley’s proposal suggests that both the PGA Tour and LIV should continue to exist independently, but with more collaboration between them. Under this plan, LIV players would be allowed unrestricted access to the DP World Tour, which is currently limited due to fines and suspensions imposed on LIV players. Additionally, the top 10 LIV players would be granted the opportunity to participate in prestigious events like The Players Championship and five Signature Events on the PGA Tour. Furthermore, LIV would allow two PGA Tour teams to compete in the LIV season finale.
The proposal also includes a financial aspect, where the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is behind LIV, would match the $1.5 billion investment made by SSG (Sporting Services Group) into PGA Tour Enterprises. McGinley believes this arrangement could benefit both sides, creating a balanced approach to collaboration. While the PGA Tour and LIV have been pursuing separate paths, McGinley feels that with minor concessions from both parties, this proposal could provide a path to unity that benefits everyone involved.
In his view, the proposal isn’t overly complicated and offers mutual benefits. Both tours would share in the advantages without one completely dominating or losing out, creating an environment where players and fans both stand to gain.