LIV Golf begins the 2024 season with the future at stake in merger talks

Talks have extended beyond the December 31 deadline to reach an agreement that brings all parties together in a partnership, so in the meantime, LIV and the PGA Tour have arranged a schedule for 2024, and LIV has retained the format of the 54-hole, par-25 event. $1 million with the starting gun and the individual and team titles.

While the future of LIV relies more on secret conversations, the present focuses on a 14-event campaign.

Adding to the pressure to complete the agreement were further defections from LIV, particularly Spanish star Rahm, ranked third in the world, in December and Briton Tyrell Hatton in January.

“I have no doubt that this is a great opportunity for me and my family, and I am very excited for the future,” Rahm said of making the leap.

“He acts as a unifier, as a bridge that brings the two sides together,” said Phil Mickelson, a six-time Grand Prix winner and longtime LIV supporter.

The PGA Tour said Wednesday that PIF talks have progressed but no final agreement has been reached, so LIV enters its season opener at Mayakoba in Mexico unsure of what will happen next.

The PGA Tour announced a deal Wednesday with Strategy Sports Group, a group of sports team owners, to invest up to $3 billion in a for-profit equity company that will boost the tour, and for PGA Tour Policy board member Jordan Spieth, LIV creates a vital deal just to bring back… Uniting elite golf talent.

“I don't think there's a need for that,” Spieth said. “I think the short answer is we don't have to, and I think the long answer is positive that there is consolidation.

“That would be a situation we would have to try to achieve, but I'm not sure if, how or when it will happen.”

This uncertainty in the future PGA-LIV deal has led to the LIV staging events opposite “signature” PGA tournaments with the two sides competing for fans while merger talks continue.

“It would be better to be together,” said Rory McIlroy, the world number two and a PGA Tour star. “The quicker we can all get back together and start getting the strongest golf courses possible, I think it's great for golf.”

With LIV players banned by the PGA Tour, major championships remain the only place LIV and PGA stars compete against each other these days.

LIV golf tournaments do not receive World Golf Ranking points, so fewer LIV players reach major championships, generally only those players who earn exemptions through victories.

Poland's Adrian Mironek and Australian Lukas Herbert were named as LIV's newest players on Wednesday.

Rahm was named captain of LIV Golf's new 13th team, Legion XIII, and was joined by Hatton, Zimbabwe's Kieran Vincent and American Caleb Surratt.

That means 2023 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka, Rahm and 2022 British Open winner Cameron Smith of Australia will be familiar with the LIV showdown in major championships with other former champions but time is running out on others.

American Talor Gooch won the individual title of last year's LIV golf season, while DeChambeau's Crushers will defend the team title this season.

Other LIV stops include next week in Las Vegas before the NFL Super Bowl, Jeddah and Hong Kong in March as well as the Masters game April 5-7 at Doral in Miami.

Following events in Adelaide in April and Singapore in May, LIV goes to Houston in June for the US Open and Nashville the following week for the Grand Slam in Valhalla.

LIV events in Spain and England around the British Open will follow August's tournament at Greenbrier in West Virginia, where DeChambeau shot a LIV-record 58 in the final round last year to win.

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