After word spread that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf would merge, golfers on both sides of the battle were quick to take to social media.
Twitter exploded when the merger between the two warring factions was announced, with LIV golfers reveling in their triumph as PGA players appeared blindsided by PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.
Phil Mickelson simply tweeted “Awesome day today” as the news began to trickle in. Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka decided to stick with one of his biggest critics, Brandel Chamblee, and asked for a “welfare check” from the Gulf Channel analyst.
On the other hand, PGA player Collin Morikawa tweeted, “I love finding morning news on Twitter” before adding, “And everyone thought yesterday was the longest day of golf.”
The news also drew comment from a sitting US senator. “So weird,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT). “PGA officials were in my office a few months ago to talk about how the Saudis should disqualify them from participating in a major American sport because of their human rights record. I think maybe their concerns weren’t really about human rights?’
Phil Mickelson enjoyed a win after LIV Golf and the PGA Tour announced their merger
Mickelson and fellow LIV rebel Brooks Koepka both paraded their wins on social media
Meanwhile, PGA Tour pros like Collin Morikawa were shocked by the sudden announcement
Even members of Congress — such as Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy — criticized this announcement
According to reports, no one on the PGA Tour had been notified of the potential merger prior to the announcement.
The tour eventually sent players a letter explaining what was going on when the news was already out.
Players were stunned when they reacted on social media.
Canadian and 67th ranked golfer Mackenzie Hughes tweeted, “There’s nothing like finding out via Twitter that we’re merging with a tour we said we never would.”
South Korea’s Byeong-Hun An supposedly said, “I suspect the LIV teams were struggling to get sponsors and the PGA Tour couldn’t refuse the money. Win-win for both tours, but it’s a big loss for them [those] who has championed the tour for the past two years.”
Korean-American tour winner Michael Kim said, “Very curious how many people knew this deal was going on. About 5-7 people? Player-run organization right?
Sahith Theegala texted the latest news reporter from SI Golf Gabby Herzigsaying, ‘Just madness, I mean I’m sure there’s a reason for it, but it won’t be a good reason for the total lack of communication.
“I mean how do top 10 players in the world find out on Twitter. But I’m biting my tongue until there’s more things we hear. Players will absolutely not like this.’
Dylan Wu left a scathing comment about Monahan saying, “Tell me why Jay Monahan basically got a promotion to CEO of all the golf courses in the world by going back on everything he said in the past 2 years. The hypocrisy. I wish golf worked like that. I think money always wins the @PGA Tour.”
Wu went on to say, “Can I also say that I love @PhilMickelson and everything he’s said over the past two years has been exactly right?” He went up in flames in the media for his brutal honesty and now everyone is finally realizing he was right and the PGA Tour is doing what they want.”
PGA Tour athletes were stunned and angry as news of the merger trickled through
Some humor was injected into the situation by those on tour.
Justin Thomas posted a video of a phone receiving a ton of notifications with the caption, “Had quite a fun practice session this morning too.”
Joel Dahmen tweeted, “I grew up a fan of the 4 Aces. Maybe one day I’ll get to play for them on the PGA Tour!’
“Can’t wait for the next players meeting,” Jhonattan Vegas wrote.
“Now that we’re all friends, is it too late for us to discuss some of these team names?” Max Homa wondered with an image from a Google search asking “wtf is a Cleek.”
Jessica Hadwin, Adam Hadwin’s wife, seemed happy to be able to hook up with some of her “favorite LIV women.”
Some on the PGA Tour continued to laugh and joke about this debacle
Ex-golfers and sports personalities all had to react to the news, and most expressed outrage at the way PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan backtracked on his statements last year.
“I’m old enough to remember when the PGA Tour tried to claim the moral highway on LIV and the Saudis,” said Yahoo Sports’ Dan Wetzel.
‘What the f**k? The PGA collapsed quickly,” said Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports. “Imagine being a PGA member that LIV has now turned down for no reason at all?
“I think the PGA Jay Monahan committee is no longer morally against LIV because of 9/11 as they are now merging. Funny how that works.’
Media personalities within the sport were outraged that this merger took place
“I don’t know how a player who turned down LIV money and stayed with the PGA could ever believe anything from Jay Monahan again,” said NoLayingUp’s Kevin Van Valkenburg.
“He let them take every arrow, hid in an office for a year, then tricked them on CNBC. Better pay them, I think.’
Scott van Pelt, host of ESPN Golf and Sportscenter, wrote, “So you’re preaching loyalty to a tour and convincing guys not to take 8 and 9 figure deals based partly on that loyalty and partly on the source of the money.” .
“Then those guys find out on Twitter that YOU took the exact same money? Nino Brown, “Always business, never personal”‘.
His ESPN colleague, Matt Barrie, wrote, “I don’t know how Jay Monahan looks his players in the eye right now. We can discuss how this makes golf such a huge draw. Because it is. But for him to do this after all he’s said is one of the most beautiful sights in pro sports history. When I’m a player I’m PISSED.’
Other writers wondered how the players on the tour took this news
Many debated what was going through the minds of the players turning down LIV deals.
Stephen Hennessey of Golf Digest said, “I feel genuinely sorry for someone like Hideki Matsuyama. He reportedly turned down about $300 million… and now his loyalty to the tour doesn’t mean much.”
SI golf writer Alan Shipnuck said, “How do you think Rickie Fowler is feeling right now? He turned down a $75 million LIV offer. Top players on LIV are ecstatic: they’ve gotten a huge $ upfront and their franchise values have skyrocketed. Tour players can still cash in as LIV starts recruiting again, but the gold rush is over.”
ESPN’s Marty Smith wrote, “Imagine how Rory McIlroy feels right now. He put Monahan and the Tour on his back and carried them through the storm as some of his closest friends scored $150 million deals and prepared for Majors. All to land back here. Almost impossible to comprehend.’