Even though the amateur game remains as popular as ever, the professional ranks cannot get out of their own way.
The game remains divided at the top, with star-studded talent playing on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf but not together. Despite signs of an imminent agreement, a deal between the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), LIV’s benefactor, and the PGA Tour remains in a quandary. Of course, the PIF and the tour signed a “framework agreement” 18 months ago, paving the way for a concrete deal to unite both tours by the end of 2023. But that has not yet transpired.
Instead, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf continue to operate separately, alienating fans and killing television ratings. The four majors are now the only instance where fans can watch PGA Tour and LIV Golf players compete side-by-side. Although the DP World Tour continues to adjust its policies, thus making it easier for LIV players to play on the circuit formerly known as the European Tour. Look no further than next week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, where Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will play alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Akshay Bhatia, and others. That should delight some fans around the world.
But do you know what will not?
The professional golf schedule.
On Tuesday, LIV Golf finalized its 2025 schedule, which took a direct shot at the PGA Tour. The Saudi-backed circuit’s final three events will compete directly with the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which has already struggled to garner attention due to its place on the late-summer calendar. LIV said that they wanted to wrap up their year before the NFL regular season begins — the NFL reigns supreme even for an international league — but that is a bogus excuse. They knew what they were doing in scheduling their events when, hoping to peel more eyeballs away from the tour and towards LIV, which has all but struck a television deal with Fox Sports.
In addition, four LIV events earlier in the season directly compete with three Signature Events and The Players Championship.
But who could blame them for making this move? Despite all the naysayers and international outcry over the past few years, LIV has been quite successful and shows no signs of slowing down. They wanted to disrupt the professional game while growing it in other parts of the world, and so far, they have done just that.
But hosting three events in the United States in August, at the same time as the FedEx Cup Playoffs, does not benefit anybody. Neither does staging tournaments at the same time as marquee events like the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players.
Oh well. Once again, the fan loses out the most while players on both sides of the aisle continue to make millions.
LIV’s complete schedule follows below.
LIV Golf 2025 Schedule:
LIV Golf Riyadh — Riyadh Golf Club — Feb. 6-8, 2025
LIV Golf Adelaide — The Grange Golf Club — Feb. 14-16, 2025
LIV Golf Hong Kong — Hong Kong Golf Club — Mar. 7-9, 2025
LIV Golf Singapore — Sentosa Golf Club (Serapong) — Mar. 14-16, 2025
LIV Golf Miami — Trump National Doral — Apr. 4-6
LIV Golf Mexico City — Club de Golf Chapultepec — Apr. 25-27
LIV Golf Korea — Jack Nicklaus Golf Course — May 2-4
LIV Golf D.C. — Robert Trent Jones Golf Club — Jun. 6-8
LIV Golf Dallas — Maridoe Golf Club — Jun. 27-29
LIV Golf Andalucía — Valderrama Golf Club — Jul. 11-13
LIV Golf U.K. — JCB Golf and Country Club — July. 25-27
LIV Golf Chicago — Bolingbrook Golf Club — Aug. 8-10
LIV Golf Indianapolis — Chatham Hills Golf Club — Aug. 15-17
LIV Golf Team Championship — The Cardinal at St. John’s Resort — Aug. 22-24
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
