I have spent 73 years in professional golf and have been a proud member of the PGA and PGA TOUR for decades. This game has given me so much, and I feel a responsibility to speak up for its future. Many people may not realise that the formation of the modern PGA TOUR was also a period of disagreement within professional golf. We have faced division before, but one truth has never changed. We have the privilege of earning our living on the golf course because of the fans and sponsors who support us. We must never lose sight of that.
The spirit of the Presidents Cup from last week should remind us that fierce competition and mutual respect belong together. That same spirit should guide the PGA TOUR, LIV Golf and everyone with a responsibility to our game. We can have our differences and still work towards a common goal. Golf fans around the world want to see the best players compete against one another week in and week out. I want to see Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau competing regularly against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, not just at our major championships. My hope is that we can finally put the divisions of recent years behind us and make that possible.
Even more importantly, we must consider the young players who are beginning their professional careers and the children who dream of following them. They deserve opportunities to test themselves against the best and a game whose leaders are working together to help them succeed. Let us come together, once and for all, with gratitude for those who support us and a shared commitment to golf’s future. Let us open more doors for younger generations around the world. They are the lifeblood of our game. GP