David Higgins exclusive on DP World Tour and PGA Tour merging with LIV Golf
David Higgins believes the future of golf is bright despite the recent months of turmoil. “Certainly there is going to be a huge amount of money invested into golf not just on the PGA Tour but the DP World Tour and all the South African Tours as well”. The merge will take into an affect from the start of 2023/2024 PGA Tour season which means all LIV players can reapply for membership and you will be watching the likes of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia again. “The future of golf looks good they just need to get everything sorted get things in the right direction I’m sure golf will be in a great place probably take a year or so but it will get there”.
In 2022 the breakaway Saudi backed LIV Tour brought a lot of distraction to the world of professional golf both on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. A lot of big names joined LIV Tour which included major champions Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau. LIV Tour players were still allowed to play in golf’s four majors The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and The Open which included Koepka winning his fifth major at Oak Hill in May 2023. The world of sport was in shock on Tuesday 6th of June 2023 as it was revealed that PGA Tour and DP World Tour merged with LIV. “Not really as they always had to come together and no one was going to win or come out the right side of it , I wasn’t shocked”.
Players from the PGA Tour which included Rory McIlroy called for commissioner Jay Monahan to resign. Monahan has currently stepped away from his role due to medical grounds. “Were it goes from here will take a bit of time to sort it out and it’s not great for golf at the moment”. Rory McIlroy stayed loyal to the PGA Tour and turned down €465 million to join LIV tour. “I say it has cost him a few quid who knows what is going on behind the scenes as I don’t know the ins & outs of it”.
The US Open came at a great time were all golf fans could think about what was happening on the course which included Rory McIlroy been one shot behind with one round to go at Los Angeles. “He missed a couple of putts and I suppose there is a bit of pressure on him, I guess there is internal pressure questioning himself if he is going to win another one or not”. MCIlroy has finished inside the top 10 in the last two majors and The Open is at Royal Liverpool which is a golf course that he has won on before in 2014. “He is too good of a player to not get over the line as he is top five nearly every week and it’s only a matter of time before he breaks through”. McIlroy continues to be consistent as he finished in a tie for seventh at the Travellers Championship.
Padraig Harrington continues to impress at the majors as he made the halfway cut at both the PGA Championship and US Open. “Padraig is a great ambassador for Irish golf and for the over 50s”. The Dubliner had an unbelievable final round of nine under to win the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open and is in great form going into the US Senior’s Open. “He is fantastic, he has always been a hard worker and I’m sure there is plenty of more good weeks for Padraig”.
Leona Maguire won her second LPGA Tour event by shooting a back nine of 30 shots. “She is fantastic another great ambassador for Ireland winning over in the States is never easy and she has done it a couple of times”. Maguire held the 54 hole lead at the Women’s PGA Championship and shot a disappointing final round of three over to finish in a tie for 11th. “I think she is a certain for that team, good luck to her and I’m sure she will have many more wins”. Maguire is currently ranked 12th in the Rolex rankings and is looking to play in her second Solheim Cup in September.
It was an absolute pleasure to sit down with David Higgins and I wish him all the best on the Legends Tour throughout 2023.