Sunday, April 19, 2026

Whirlwind Week Leaves Golf World Taking Pace of New Reality

  • Fans still searching for answers after PGA Tour-PIF announcement.
  • The future of professional golf remains unclear for the time being.
Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The wildest week in professional golf history is coming to an end with heads still spinning and no clear picture of what the future holds.

Most fans and media have not been satisfied with PGA Tour policy board member Jimmy Dunne’s attempts to explain his optimism in partnering with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

“I am quite certain and have had conversations with a lot of knowledgeable people that the people that I’m dealing with [from the PIF] had nothing to do with [the Sept. 11 attacks],” Dunne told Golf Channel. “And if someone can find someone that unequivocally was involved with it, I’ll kill him myself.”

Dunne’s company lost 66 employees during the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.

The 65-year-old Dunne told Sports Illustrated that he reached out to PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan to see why he was spending so much on LIV and realized the Tour could potentially work something out for the good of golf. 

Reaction to Dunne’s comments has not been positive for the Tour, much like fans’ reception of PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan’s confusing and sometimes awkward public appearances this week.

LIV Leads The Way

Six of the 10 players on Forbes new list of the highest-paid golfers in 2023 compete for LIV Golf: Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Cam Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, and Patrick Reed.

Johnson brought in a total of $111 million on and off the course, topping the entire list.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 4, 2026; Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA; Byeong Hun An in action during the first round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club.

LIV Golf CEO: League Looking for New Investors

Scott O’Neil admitted LIV will need to raise money moving forward.
LIV Golf livestream

LIV Golf Loses Mexico Livestream for Nearly Three Hours

The league’s broadcast feeds were down for more than an hour.

LIV Golf’s Future: Three Big Questions If Saudi Funding Dries Up

LIV players could be seeking a return to the PGA Tour.

Saudi PIF Drops Al-Hilal Soccer Team Amid Sports Pivot

The PIF is reportedly considering an exit from LIV Golf. 

Featured Today

The Lawyer Steering the NIL Era

In the new era of college sports, Darren Heitner is everywhere.
blake griffin
April 14, 2026

Inside Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season at Prime Video

The six-time All-Star was initially hesitant to enter the media space.
Matthew Schaefer/Front Office Sports
April 10, 2026

Matthew Schaefer Has the Hockey World in His Thrall

The teenage Islanders defenseman cannon-balled into the NHL.
April 9, 2026

College Athletes Are Ignoring NCAA Gambling Bans

“We were going to bet regardless,” says one former D-I athlete.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) heads for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 14 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. The Bills overcame a halftime deficit to win 39-34.

Joe Flacco Sounds Alarm on 18-Game Schedule

The veteran QB warns such expansion could hurt the playoffs.
April 16, 2026

Grand Slam Track’s Contentious Bankruptcy Is Over. Now What?

With bankruptcy over, Grand Slam is cleared to try a comeback.
Apr 15, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) clears the puck from the goal with Dallas Stars left wing Adam Erne (73) in pursuit in the third period at KeyBank Center.
April 17, 2026

New-Look NHL Playoffs Set As League Rides Attendance Wave

This year’s playoff field includes several upstarts and fresh storylines.
Sponsored

From Gold Medalist to Business Founder

Allyson Felix on investing in women’s sports and what comes next for track & LA28.
Dec 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
April 16, 2026

NBA Bends 65-Game Awards Rule for Dončić, Cunningham

Anthony Edwards, meanwhile, lost his appeal.
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) and guard Darius Garland (10) in the second half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome.
exclusive
April 16, 2026

NBA Is in Talks With Kalshi and Polymarket

Discussions ramped up after the CFTC began engaging with leagues, sources say.
April 16, 2026

NFL Draft Week Brings Tension, Trade Rumors, Pittsburgh Frenzy

Trade talk grows while hotel rooms in Pittsburgh remain historically expensive.
April 16, 2026

2026 WNBA Draft Was Second-Most Watched in Event History

Viewership trends mirror those of the NCAA women’s basketball title game.