Three Legends, One Wish: Golf’s Greats Call for Unity Amid the Split

Player, Watson and Nicklaus reflect on LIV-PGA rift and the uncertain future of a divided game

Masters champion and Honorary Starter Gary Player of South Africa, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament Fred S. Ridley, Masters champion and Honorary Starter Jack Nicklaus and Masters champion and Honorary Starter Tom Watson of the United States on the No. 1 tee during the Honorary Starters Ceremony prior to the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Thursday, April 10, 2025. / Masters tournament

Augusta, Georgia - It’s been nearly two years since LIV Golf and the PGA TOUR struck a framework agreement to end their civil war — but with no deal finalised, the game remains stuck between reconciliation and rivalry.

Golfing great Gary Player, who has seen the game evolve over nearly nine decades, believes division harms more than it helps. “Confrontation is a terrible thing,” he said. “It would be wonderful if they could get together. Whether they will or not, time will tell.”

Tom Watson, too, longs for unity — but says the path back looks anything but clear. “They made their choice to play their own tour… I don't see a real working mechanism for the two tours to get back together,” he said. Watson cited PGA TOUR rules requiring players to seek permission to compete elsewhere, a structure that makes merging paths tricky. “It's there to protect the sponsors… I don’t see that changing.”

Still, there’s desire among the players to reunite. Scottie Scheffler’s words during the Champions Dinner — “I’m glad we’re all together again” — struck a chord with Watson. But, as he said, it’s up to the game’s “powers that be” to find a way forward.

Jack Nicklaus, ever the architect of modern golf’s golden age, credits LIV with forcing needed change at the PGA TOUR. “The LIV pushed the PGA TOUR into doing some things that were a little premature,” he said. Still, he sees the Tour as thriving — with new stars, better structure and player ownership now part of the model. “Would I love to see them all come together? Sure… but the PGA TOUR is the Tour, and it’s very healthy.”

For now, the majors remain the only true crossroads, where LIV and PGA players share the same fairways. Whether that’s enough to sustain the soul of the sport remains to be seen. But as Player put it: “We’re lucky we still have freedom of choice.” Whether the game chooses unity or rivalry next, the clock is ticking.