By Rahul Banerji
The European Tour and PGA Tour on Thursday said they were coming together in “a new era for global golf” in a “strategic alliance” that could pave the way for greater cooperation between the two.
Top players from the European Tour including former world number one Rory McIlroy have been calling for such a step for some time now.
Earlier this year, McIlroy pointed out the Covid-19 fallout had underlined the need for such a step.
“This pandemic has highlighted the fact that the game of golf at the highest level needs to be simplified,” he said ahead of the Charles Schwab Chelllenge in June.
“There’s too many funnels, there’s too many channels. I don’t know if everything being under one umbrella is the solution, but definitely fewer umbrellas I think is a way forward.
“For the health of both tours, a world tour is something I’ve always wanted, but it had to be done the right way.” McIlroy was referring to the possible emergence of the Premier Golf League.
Exploratory step?
Thursday’s agreement will see golf’s two major Tours explore “all facets of collaboration, working together on strategic commercial opportunities including collaborating on global media rights in certain territories”.
A joint statement on the day said, “This will come through part of the agreement which sees the PGA Tour acquire a minority investment stake in European Tour Productions), the European Tour’s Media Production company, which produces and distributes content internationally.
“The Tours will also work in partnership on a number of other areas including global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for the respective memberships.
“Further details of these areas will be announced in due course.”
‘Historic moment’
Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: “This partnership is an historic moment for the game of golf.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for both the European Tour and the PGA Tour to explore ways to come together at the very pinnacle of our sport and work in unison for the benefit of the men’s professional game.
“Today’s announcement is the formalisation of a closer working relationship between the Tours in recent years.
“It was one which was crystalised earlier this year when Jay (Monahan) and I were part of the working group containing representatives of the four Majors and the LPGA, a group which helped shape the remainder of the golfing calendar for 2020 during unprecedented times.
“We shared the challenges of working through a year neither of us could have ever imagined and we found definite synergies in many areas of our respective Tours.
“That gave us the impetus to move forward together and arrive at this momentous announcement we are making today.”
Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA Tour, added, “We are thrilled to announce this further strengthening of our partnership with the European Tour.
“We look forward to working together for the benefit of the men’s professional game and for golf fans around the world.”
Also read: PGA Tour’s 2020-21 ‘super season’ to feature 50 events
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