Explained: PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LIV Golf merger

Will LIV Golf merge with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour?

After two years of disruption, the world of men’s golf looks set to unify with the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and DP World Tour merging for the 2024 season. Here’s everything you need to know about the landmark deal which could change the face of golf forever…

It represents one of the most shocking moves in golf history. The decision to merge the PGA Tour and DP World Tour with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which represents LIV, has caught everyone off guard – including the players – and sent shockwaves through the sport.

The new agreement will see the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf come together to form “a new collectively owned” entity exclusively funded by PIF, bringing an end to a tense conflict that has lasted the best part of two years.

But how did a merger that seemed almost impossible actually happen and what does it mean for the future of the three Tours involved and the Ryder Cup?

Our PGA Tour and LIV Golf experts Rob Jerram and Michael Catling answer all of the burning questions about the merger, the controversy surrounding PIF, and why the futures of Greg Norman and Jay Monahan are now under threat.

How did the PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger come about?

We understand Amanda Staveley, Chief Executive of PCP Capital Partners, and a shareholder in Newcastle United, and Jimmy Dunne (powerbroker, longtime President of Seminole Golf Club, close confidant to many top players and Augusta member) were key figures in getting the PGA Tour and PIF around a table.

The initial meeting was between PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and two PGA Tour board members, believed to be Dunne and Ed Herlihy (Co-Chairman of the Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz law firm). Jay Monahan then joined the negotiations at the second meeting and had two lunches with Al-Rumayyan in London, as well as a round of golf at Beaverbrook.

Only a small handful of people, and no players, were ever involved in the process and there were just seven weeks between the initial meeting and the deal being finalized on June 5, less than 24 hours before it was announced.

Who stands to benefit?

It’s been described to us as a marriage of convenience for both sides to sign a pact and end months of litigation. Ultimately, neither party were prepared to reveal their secrets via discovery, and there were also concerns about how long the court case was going to drag on for.

By becoming partners rather than enemies, the PGA Tour will now benefit from a big cash injection, while the Saudis will finally get what they wanted all along which is legitimacy and a seat at golf’s top table.

When did the players find out about the PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger?

It seems the majority found out at the same time as the rest of us, with many of the game’s biggest stars seeing the news on social media.

Rory McIlroy has revealed that he was aware of things going on in the background and received a text from Jimmy Dunne on Monday night, before being walked through the news in a phone call on Tuesday morning ahead of the announcement.

What have the players been told?

Initially, they received a letter from Monahan, which you can read in full below, after the announcement had been made. They were then invited to attend a players’ meeting later in the day at the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto.

So the deal is definitely happening then? 

This is another part of the subplot. The ‘framework agreement’ hasn’t been ratified yet and there are still a number of hurdles they need to jump through. First, the deal needs to be voted through by the PGA Tour’s policy board, which includes five players and five independent directors, and then they’ve got to hope the agreement isn’t blocked by UK, US and EU antitrust regulators.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is already conducting an investigation into the PGA Tour, as well as the USGA and Augusta National, for anti-competitive practices and is in the process of reviewing the proposed terms of the deal.

There are still a lot of unknowns, including the possibility that the PGA Tour could have its controversial tax-exempt status revoked. A day after the news broke, Congressman John Garmendi proposed a No Corporate Tax Exemption for Professional Sports Act to end the tax loophole that the PGA Tour currently exploits.  

In a statement, Republican Garamendi said: “Saudi Arabia cannot be allowed to sportswash its government’s horrific human rights abuses and the 2018 murder of American-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi by taking over the PGA.

“PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan should be ashamed of the blatant hypocrisy and about-face he and the rest of PGA’s leadership demonstrated. The notion that the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund would pay zero dollars in taxes on their blood money and potentially billions of dollars in profits while countless American families pay their fair share while struggling to make ends meet is ludicrous.”

How does Rory McIlroy feel about the U-turn?

Having spent much of the past year acting as a spokesman for the PGA Tour, speaking out against LIV and its backers, McIlroy has every right to feel hurt and let down. In his press conference at the Canadian Open, he admitted he felt like a sacrificial lamb, though when asked if he still had confidence in Monahan, McIlroy replied, “I do.”

He added: “When I try to remove myself from the situation and I look at the bigger picture, I think ultimately this is going to be good for the game of professional golf. It unifies it and secures its future,” he said at the RBC Canadian Open.

“Technically anyone involved with LIV now would now answer to Jay. Whether you like it or not, the PIF were going to keep spending in golf. At least now you can control how the money is spent.”

However, McIlroy was keen to stress that this isn’t a merger with LIV, instead referring to it as a merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF.

“I hate LIV, I still hate LIV – I hope it goes away and fully expect that it does.”

How has everyone else reacted?

It’s fair to say the reaction has been mixed, with the majority of positive noises coming from players who joined LIV.

Former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau told CNN it was “the best thing that could ever happen for the game of golf”, while Phil Mickelson simply tweeted: “Awesome day today.”

Most PGA Tour players seem less than enthused, however, with Xander Schauffele admitting he felt betrayed by the PGA Tour’s decision to do a deal with the Saudis.

Terry Strada, the chair of 9/11 families, went one step further by branding Monahan “a sellout”, while Hatice Cengiz, the fiancée of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered by Saudi agents in 2018, tweeted that “this is the worst case of sportswashing”.

Has this made Jay Monahan’s position as PGA Tour CEO untenable?

It certainly seems that way. The consensus among players is that Monahan has cheapened his character by selling out to the Saudis. It smacks of hypocrisy, of succumbing to a sportswashing operation, when he has spent the last two years asking everyone else to ignore the riches on offer. 

“Nothing like finding out through Twitter that we’re merging with a tour that we said we’d never do that with,” tweeted Mackenzie Hughes.

Trust is now at an all-time low, and the majority of players have directed their anger toward Monahan. Johnson Wagner, a three-time PGA Tour winner, was present in the players’ meeting in Toronto after the news broke and told The Golf Channel that some members called for Monahan’s resignation. He estimated that 90% were against the merger. 

Monahan had previously said anyone who joined LIV would not be welcome back on the PGA Tour.

“I recognize that people are going to call me a hypocrite,” the 53-year-old said.

“Any time I’ve said anything I’ve said it with the information I had at that moment, and I said it based on someone that’s trying to compete for the PGA Tour and our players.

“I accept those criticisms but circumstances do change and I think looking at the big picture got us to this point. It probably didn’t seem this way to them but as I looked to those players that have been loyal to the PGA Tour, I’m confident they made the right decision.

“They have helped re-architect the future of the PGA Tour, they have moved us to a more competitive model. We have significantly invested in our business in 2023 and we’re going to do so in 2024.”

Why did Monahan go back on his word and side with the Saudis?

Like everything in life, it comes down to money. The decision to partner with PIF was necessary to ease the potentially crippling financial constraints placed on the PGA Tour in the last 12 months.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Monahan told Tour employees that they could not compete against a foreign government with unlimited money. He revealed that the PGA Tour had already spent $50 million in legal fees and taken another $100 million from its reserve funds to finance an increase in purses and other bonuses.

Continuing down that path would have been unsustainable, while Monahan can now claim that he has ended the threat of LIV and all litigation in one fell swoop.

In explaining his decision, Monahan said: “This, ultimately, is a decision that I think is in the best interest of all of the members of the PGA Tour, puts us in a position of control, allows us to partner with the PIF in a constructive and productive way, to have them invest with us, again, running the PGA Tour, having these three entities under one for-profit LLC,” he said.

“In terms of how did we get to this point and how did we go from a confrontation to now being partners? We just realized that we were better off together than we were fighting or apart.”

Will those who remained loyal to the PGA Tour be compensated?

In an interview with ESPN, Jimmy Dunne revealed that players who turned down offers from LIV will be given an equity stake in the new for-profit enterprise.

As for those who did up sticks and leave, Dunne confirmed that they will not be able to participate in the plan and will also be subject to punishments, determined by a committee of current players and administrators, before they are welcomed back.

What happens to LIV now?

That decision rests in the hands of Monahan, who has the power to disband LIV according to Dunne. Greg Norman has told employees it is business as usual, while Sports Illustrated are reporting that various team captains have been given reassurances that the league will continue for the rest of this season and next.

So far, no official announcement has been made, but the positivity does contradict Monahan’s comments that he does not “see a scenario’’ where LIV Golf exists in its current format alongside the PGA Tour next year. No decision is expected until the LIV season concludes in November.

What does the future hold for Greg Norman?

If rumors are to be believed, then he will be relieved of his duties as LIV Golf’s CEO in the coming weeks. Despite his seniority, the Australian was not involved in the merger deal and was only informed of it in a phone call with Al-Rumayyan shortly before the news was made public.

Is a new league being created?

All we know so far is that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF will work together to “best feature and grow team golf going forward”. The new entity doesn’t have a name yet, but a new board of directors, led by Al-Rumayyan as Chairman and Monahan as Chief Executive, will oversee a cohesive schedule of events.

How does this impact the future of the DP World Tour? 

DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley talked to the media after the news broke and could barely contain his excitement. “It’s an unbelievable, momentous day for global golf and the men’s professional game. I am thrilled. I’m excited. I’m energized.”

Pelley did, however, fail to address Monahan’s revelation about how the merger was the consequence of secret talks between a very small number of executives, which notably didn’t include Pelley.

For many European golf observers, already concerned about the long-term future of the DP World Tour, it was a worrying detail and has intensified talk about its tumbling status as a feeder tour. Whether it continues down that path will only be revealed in time, but some players – including Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston – are excited by the opportunities it could potentially bring.  

Speaking on his Beef’s Golf Club podcast, he said: “As a player I’m quite excited. We could get some amazing opportunities and if there’s ways to play into the massive events and massive prize funds then great. 

“The good thing about that is it needs to be available for everyone. That’s why lots of players were frustrated because it was just a shut shop. You couldn’t even get into LIV, it was completely shut off.”

“You can never compete with the backing of the PIF. There’s no way that the PGA and DP Tour could compete with them so they’ve obviously found some kind of common ground where they’re going to work together. 

“If it can bring good golf events, the best fields, it’s good for players and it’s good for fans and if that works then great.” 

What is the Public Investment Fund and why is it so controversial?

The Public Investment Fund (or PIF for short) is the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, with at least $600 billion in assets. It currently employs 2,000 staff and has a portfolio of investments that covers some of the biggest – and most high-profile – companies in the world. They currently hold stakes in Disney, Microsoft, Amazon, Uber, Tesla, Boeing, to name just a few.

A big part of PIF’s focus now is on driving the Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the country’s reliance on oil by using sport to boost their global economy. Put it like that and it all sounds very clever until you dive into the world of politics and the alleged human rights abuses committed against its citizens and those who have criticized the State.

In 2018, Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed and dismembered in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul for daring to criticize the country’s oppressive regime. More recently 81 people were executed in a single day after being convicted of a wide range of offenses, including terrorist-related crimes, murder, armed robbery and arms smuggling.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the man who chairs PIF’s board, let the atrocities happen under his watch and now he is propping up this ‘new entity’ that Monahan and Pelley are so excited about. No amount of money should make that right.

What makes PIF so controversial is how they are using golf and other sports as pawns to launder the country’s reputation.

As well as owning a controlling stake in Newcastle United Football Club, they have the rights to the Spanish Super Cup and have just acquired 75% stakes in Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Hilal and Al Nassr, the four biggest clubs in the Saudi Pro League.

Their wealth has already attracted Cristiano Ronaldo to the Kingdom in return for around €200 million per season, while Karim Benzema has just signed for Al-Ittihad from Real Madrid after agreeing a two-year deal, reportedly worth €220 million.

The sums are eye-watering, and it doesn’t stop there. PIF’s influence and investment can be seen in Formula 1, the WWE, MotoGP, snooker, boxing and E-Sports. Saudi Arabia has also been chosen to stage the 2029 Asian Games, and you can bet PIF will be footing the entire bill. A bid is also expected for the 2030 World Cup hosting rights and the likelihood is that the Olympics will follow at some point too. As the PGA Tour have shown, money talks and PIF has the power to get what they want.

Who is Yasir Al-Rumayyan?

A banker by trade, his Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan is now the most powerful man in the sport, chairing the board of golf’s new world order. Principally, he serves as a confidante and right-hand man to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who made him the Governor of the Public Investment Fund in 2019.

The 53-year-old has been advising the Saudi Government since 2015 and his influence is far-reaching. For seven years he sat on the board of directors at Uber, overseeing PIF’s 3.75% stake in the ride-hailing service, before quietly stepping down earlier this year. He is currently juggling multiple jobs as the chairman of Maaden, Saudi Arabia’s largest mining firm, and Aramco, the oil giant which sponsors the LET and is valued at $2.1 trillion.

Al-Rumayyan also fulfills the same role at Newcastle United Football Club, though an American judge said he is “up to his eyeballs” managing LIV Golf. He has been a prominent face at tournaments and was even photographed alongside Donald Trump at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ hats. 

He saved his biggest appearance for CNBC, where he announced the merger alongside Monahan, and revealed that the Saudis will invest “whatever it takes” to make the partnership a success.  

His new title as chairman of the new PIF-Tour entity means Monahan now reports to him.

What is Mohammed bin Salman’s involvement?

Saudi’s controversial ruler is bankrolling everything from afar. He has the keys to PIF’s war chest, which has allowed LIV Golf to pay nine-figure contracts to the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau. The total cost of their investment is estimated at around $2 billion.

According to a press release announcing the merger, PIF will be the “exclusive investor” and “make a capital investment into the new entity to facilitate its growth and success”. 

Is the Asian Tour part of the merger?

If there is confusion and concern about where the DP World Tour fits in golf’s new world order, there are equal fears about the Asian Tour. In 2021, it was announced that the Asian Tour would be bolstered by the introduction of an International Series, with a $300 million cash injection over the next 10 years from PIF.

There is no suggestion that anything will change in that regard, but the Asian Tour wasn’t namechecked in the press release announcing the merger.

As with so much of the merger, a lot of questions remain unanswered, though Commissioner Cho Minn Thant has hinted that the Asian Tour will be part of the ‘new entity’ in some form.

“This hugely significant development validates our well-documented decision to collaborate with Golf Saudi and LIV Golf to elevate the Asian Tour’s standing in the game.

“We were always confident a solution would be found, and we are delighted it has come so soon following a turbulent period for golf globally.

“The AT looks forward to contributing to the ongoing dialogue and playing our part in helping to build a model and structure for the Tours to work together so that we can all enjoy what will arguably be the most exciting period for professional golf.”

How has Brandel Chamblee reacted to the merger news?

Chamblee has stated that the move is “one of the saddest days in the history of professional golf.”

Speaking on The Golf Channel just hours after the news was released, he said: “When I first heard about it, I was completely shocked. After the shock sort of ebbed away, I was hugely disappointed.

“I think this is one of the saddest days in the history of professional golf. I do believe the governing bodies, the entities, the professional entities have sacrificed their principles for profit.”

Chamblee has been one of the most vocal critics of LIV and PIF, calling out players who have moved to the rebel Tour and criticizing coach Claude Harmon III, saying he was “happy to profit from evil”.

The 60-year-old was also critical of suggestions that Brooks Koepka could play in the Ryder Cup following his PGA Championship victory.

Shortly after the merger announcement, Koepka Tweeted, saying: “Welfare Check on Chamblee,” attracting more than 11,000 retweets and 74.6k likes.

Will the merger be covered by Full Swing?

Absolutely. The Netflix documentary’s cameras were rolling at the Canadian Open as the merger news broke and show Director Chad Mumm confirmed on social media that plenty of footage had been captured for season two. The only downside is we’ll have to wait until next year to see it!

Will LIV’s players now be eligible for World Ranking Points?

There’s no reason to think that the Official World Golf Ranking (OGWR) will change its stance on LIV League events in the short term, not unless it wants to confirm the suspicions of LIV supporters that the tours, the OWGR, and the sport’s mainstream media are part of a shadowy cabal.

The OWGR has always insisted that 54-hole events with no cut – plus the complications of the team element – represent the ranking problem and for the foreseeable future we have no reason to believe LIV will change its format.

OWGR board member and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh also told The Times last month: “They (LIV) made a bad assumption that this will be a quick process. It never has been. Every application has taken a year-plus as far as I’m aware. They might have to solve things as well, and it’s not clear whether they’re willing to.”

If and when LIV players re-apply for their places on the PGA and DP World Tours and start playing in their events again, they will be entitled to world ranking points, as they are now if they play in the Majors. But when it comes to LIV’s own tournaments, we can expect no change in the short term.

Will LIV’s players have to pay back their signing-on fees?

It looks highly unlikely. The LIV players all signed contracts and received their signing-on fees when they joined. There have been questions over whether LIV’s players have actually been receiving their winnings or whether they won’t get another penny until they have ‘paid off’ those initial payments.

It was a topic that came up during the arbitration case and LIV denied it.

Does Sergio Garcia still need to pay his £100,000 fine to the DP World Tour?  

Of the 17 players who were sanctioned by the DP World Tour for defecting to LIV, Sergio was the only one cited for refusing to pay up. An end to all litigation between the three tours suggested he might get away with it, but in a memo sent to players, Pelley has confirmed that the suspensions and fines previously imposed remain effective.

He added: “Members playing the LIV Golf events in 2023 will still need to request a release from us and are still governed by our regulations. If a release isn’t granted and they play, they may be sanctioned in accordance with the regulations and the Sports Resolutions decision that was released in April.”

How has Augusta National responded?

Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley has welcomed the news and an end to the waging war between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour which overshadowed the build-up to this year’s Masters.

He said: “As we have expressed previously, what makes golf special is its rich history and ability to bring people together. We are encouraged by this announcement, which represents a positive development in bringing harmony to men’s professional golf. 

“Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament are – and will remain – devoted to developing the game and celebrating its many virtues.”

How have the two governing bodies, the R&A and USGA, reacted?

In a statement attributed to Chief Executive Martin Slumbers, the R&A said they were “pleased that an agreement has been reached which will help men’s professional golf move forward in a collaborative, constructive and innovative fashion”. 

“This agreement represents a huge step toward achieving that goal for golf and we look forward to working with the new entity for the benefit of the sport globally.”

Mike Whan, the CEO of the USGA, has also weighed in and revealed that he only learned of the deal once it was announced.

“Like most of the golf world, we were surprised by today’s PGA Tour/DP World Tour/LIV Golf news. If this proposed consolidation can help resolve the conflicts in men’s professional golf and allows all parties to focus on the incredible interest, growth, and opportunities that exist within our global game, then it’s an important step forward. We look forward to learning more about how this new approach can further drive long-term growth in our wonderful game.”

What does this mean for the Majors – can LIV’s players now play in this year’s events?

The 2023 schedule isn’t impacted by the merger, which is due to happen ahead of the 2024 season. LIV players who have already qualified for the US Open and The Open will tee it up at Los Angeles Country Club and Royal Liverpool as planned. Check out our full guide to which LIV Golf players can play in the Majors.

Can LIV players now play on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour again?

Not yet. All litigation is now over, but this merger does not go ‘live’ until the start of 2024, so nothing has changed in terms of schedules and who can play where this season.

Players who had given up their Tour memberships will only be eligible to reapply at the end of the year and, if accepted, they will be welcome back on the PGA and DP World Tours.

When will we know the merged 2024 schedule?

We had been expecting the DP World Tour schedule to be announced at the Genesis Scottish Open in July, but Pelley has already confirmed that that will now be delayed following the merger news.

The PGA Tour schedule would traditionally drop around the same time but we believe that will be pushed back while the exact format of the new unified tours is decided. Realistically, we’d expect to have an idea of the schedules by September.

We keep hearing accusations of sportswashing. What is that?

Sportswashing is the practice of an individual, group, corporation, or government using sport to improve their tarnished reputation, through hosting a sporting event, the purchase or sponsorship of sporting teams, or by participation in the sport itself.

At the international level, sportswashing has been used to direct attention away from a poor human rights record and corruption scandals within a government. At individual or corporate level sportswashing is used to cover up and direct attention away from said person’s or company’s vices, crimes, or scandals.

Could the merger halt the USGA and R&A distance rollback plans?

In truth, other factors may influence the fate of this particular revolution. The Golf Channel reported from the Memorial Tournament that the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council had opposed bifurcation of the ball and that there was every chance it would be rejected, leaving it in use only at USGA and R&A championships.

PAC Chairman Adam Scott said: “I think there’d be some pushback from the membership. Ultimately, the players will end up deciding whether they want to mess around for two weeks with another ball. I really believe there’s a lot at stake here.”

That suggests player power is already sufficiently strong to reject the rollback but perhaps the merger will play a role. The purses of the four men’s majors have so far failed to keep pace with PIF’s vast resources or the PGA Tour’s response to those $25 million purses.

The question might be: with so much financial strength in the hands of the tours, to what extent can the USGA and R&A determine the future and retain strength of governance?

What does it mean for the Ryder Cup?

We know now that Westwood, Poulter, Garcia, Richard Bland, Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer have resigned their DP World Tour memberships and with it the chance to play in this year’s Ryder Cup. Technically, they could still reapply for this season under “an exceptional circumstance”, but Pelley has dismissed the chances of that happening as “difficult and highly unlikely”.

It does limit Luke Donald’s options, but Pelley has confirmed that players who are still members of the DP World Tour and part of the LIV roster, like Thomas Pieters, are eligible for European inclusion.  

Could we see Henrik Stenson appointed as European captain for 2025?

Stranger things have happened. Overnight we’ve gone from a situation where Europe were seemingly short of experienced captains to a scenario where Stenson, Westwood, Poulter and Garcia could lead the continent at the next five Ryder Cups.

Who are the big winners?

All the LIV guys probably can’t believe their luck. They’ve pocketed ridiculous amounts in signing-on fees and now they’ve got a pathway back to the Tours they left.

And what about the losers?

There are probably too many to mention, though Monahan has got a big job ahead to placate an angry and very hostile membership. Someone like Hideki Matsuyama must also be wondering why he turned down a reported $300 million to join LIV when everyone who did will be welcomed back next year.  

Is the merger good for the game?

If you’re willing to ignore where the money is coming from and the issues attached to that, then unity and huge investment in the men’s game can only be a good thing in bringing the top players together more often.

However, unity is far from guaranteed and there are a lot of players who are now questioning their loyalty to Tours because of broken promises.

We also have to remember that ‘the game’ is far bigger than the men’s professional sport. Ironically, the merger news was announced on Women’s Golf Day, but it remains to be seen if PIF will also make a move to merge the women’s tours.

We’ll also watch with interest to see how the finances are filtered down through the game to help grow facilities and opportunities for future generations.

Get the most from Today’s Golfer: Sign up for a TG Membership!

About the authors

Rob Jerram
Digital Editor

Rob Jerram is the Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com. He specializes in the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the Ryder Cup, spending large chunks of his days reading about, writing about, and watching the tours each month.

He’s passionate about the equipment used by professional golfers and is also a font of knowledge when it comes to golf balls, golf trolleys, and golf bags, testing thousands down the years.

Rob has been a journalist for more than 23 years, starting his career with Johnston Press where he covered local and regional news and sport in a variety of editorial roles across ten years.

He joined Bauer Media in September 2010 and worked as the Senior Production Editor of Today’s Golfer and Golf World magazines for ten years before moving into the Digital Editor’s role in July 2020.

During his time in the golf industry, Rob has interviewed and played golf with some of the biggest names in the game, including Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, and Rick Shiels. He’s traveled the world attending product launches and golf events and reported at both The Open and Ryder Cup.

He has been playing golf for almost three decades and is a member at Greetham Valley in Rutland and Spalding Golf Club in Lincolnshire, playing off a 9.7 handicap.

Away from golf, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, watching Peterborough United FC, going for long walks, flying his drone, cooking, and reading.

Rob uses a Callaway Paradym driver, TaylorMade M5 5-wood, TaylorMade P790 driving iron, Callaway Paradym irons (4-AW), TaylorMade MG3 wedges (52º, 58º), Odyssey Tri-Hot 5k Double Wide putter, and Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball.

You can email Rob or get in touch with him on Twitter.

Michael Catling
Features Editor

Michael Catling is Today’s Golfer‘s Features Editor and an award-winning journalist who specializes in golf’s Majors and Tours, including DP World, PGA, LPGA, and LIV.

Michael joined Today’s Golfer in 2016 and has traveled the world to attend the game’s biggest events and secure exclusive interviews with dozens of Major champions, including Jack Nicklaus, Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Gary Player, and Justin Thomas.

A former member of Ufford Park and Burghley Park, Michael has been playing golf since he was 11 and currently plays off a handicap of 10.

Away from golf he’s a keen amateur chef and has his own healthy recipes website. He also loves playing squash, going to the gym, and following Chelsea FC.

Michael uses a Ping G driver, Ping G 3-wood, Ping G Crossover 3-iron, Ping G Series irons (4-PW), Ping Glide wedges (52º, 56º, 60º), TaylorMade MySpider Tour Putter, and Srixon AD333 golf ball.

Get in touch with Michael via email and follow him on Twitter.