While amateur matches remain popular, the professional ranks can't get out of their own way.
A star-studded roster of talent plays on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, but they don't play together, and opinions remain divided at the top level. Despite signs of an impending deal, an agreement between LIV's backer, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), and the PGA Tour remains in limbo. Of course, PIF and the tour signed a “framework agreement” 18 months ago, paving the way for a concrete agreement to unite the two tours by the end of 2023, but that has yet to materialize.
Instead, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf continue to operate separately, alienating fans and reducing television ratings. The four majors are currently the only times fans can watch PGA Tour and LIV Golf players compete side by side. The DP World Tour continues to adjust its policies to make it easier for LIV players to play on the circuit formerly known as the European Tour. Next week's Hero Dubai Desert Classic will see Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton join Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia and more. That should please some fans around the world.
But you know what isn't?
Professional golf schedule.
on tuesday, LIV Golf finalizes 2025 schedulewhich directly hit the PGA Tour. The Saudi-backed circuit's final three events will go head-to-head with the FedEx Cup Playoffs, but are already struggling to get attention as they are on the late-summer calendar. LIV said he wanted to finish out the year before the NFL regular season begins (the NFL is among the best among international leagues), but that's a bogus excuse. They wanted to get more attention from the Tour and to get noticed by LIV, which had just signed a TV deal with FOX Sports, so they wanted to know what they were doing when scheduling their events. I knew.
Additionally, the four LIV events in the first half of the season will directly compete with the three Signature Events and The Players Championship.
But who can blame them for this action? Despite all the naysayers and international outcry over the past few years, LIV has been extremely successful and shows no signs of slowing down. They want to destroy the professional game while growing it in other parts of the world, and so far they have done just that.
But holding three events in the United States at the same time as the FedEx Cup Playoffs in August is not in anyone's interest. Additionally, tournaments cannot be held at the same time as big-name events like the Arnold Palmer Invitational or The Players.
I have no choice. Once again, while players on both sides of the aisle continue to make millions, it is the fans who lose the most.
The full schedule for LIV is below.
LIV Golf 2025 Schedule:
LIV Golf Riyadh — Riyadh Golf Club — February 6-8, 2025
LIV Golf Adelaide — Grange Golf Club — February 14-16, 2025
LIV Golf Hong Kong — Hong Kong Golf Club — March 7-9, 2025
LIV Golf Singapore — Sentosa Golf Club (Serapong) — March 14-16, 2025
LIV Golf Miami — Trump National Doral — April 4-6
LIV Golf Mexico City — Club de Golf Chapultepec — April 25-27
LIV Golf Korea — Jack Nicklaus Golf Course — May 2nd to 4th
LIV Golf DC — Robert Trent Jones Golf Club — June 6-8
LIV Golf Dallas — Marideau Golf Club — June 27-29
LIV Golf Andalusia — Valderrama Golf Club — July 11-13
LIV Golf UK — JCB Golf and Country Club — July. 25-27
LIV Golf Chicago — Bolingbrook Golf Club — August 8-10
LIV Golf Indianapolis — Chatham Hills Golf Club — August 15-17
LIV Golf Team Championship — Cardinal at St. John’s Resort — August 22-24
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
