Padraig Harrington doesn’t think the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will merge soon, but he has an idea to improve golf.
Negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF are slow, with hopes of reuniting top players on one tour. Harrington suggests a different approach: invite a few players from each tour to participate in the other’s events.
He believes this cross-competition would create excitement. Imagine LIV players in PGA Tour events and vice versa; it would be thrilling!
Harrington thinks merging won’t work, but having invites could solve the problem. “I don’t see the golfing merger. That’s what they are struggling with,” he said.
Proposed Solution:
Harrington’s idea is simple: every PGA Tour and European Tour event should have four spots for LIV players, and every LIV event should have four international invites. This way, fans get to see stars like Jon Rahm play globally, while others like Abraham Ancer can join events like the Mexican Open.
Fans might think this idea sounds fun because it mixes things up a bit.
“Like if we had four LIV players this week,” Harrington added, “people would focus on them. Some want them to win; others don’t.” The same goes for PGA Tour players at LIV events—everyone loves a good rivalry!
PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan and PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan (Image credit: Getty Images)
Harrington says his solution is more about sport than business. He knows PGA Tour players won’t want extra global events but sees value in rivalry-driven competitions like Majors.
“The Majors have never been better because of those rivalries,” he noted. So why not bring that excitement to other tournaments?
His final thought? “That’s my solution… I’m sitting in the media center telling you my solution.”
What do you think? Is Harrington’s idea good for golf?
