“They are never going to merge those 2 tours”- Padraig Harrington dismisses prospect of PGA Tour and LIV Golf joining hands to create one league
2-time Open Championship winner Padraig Harrington recently made a bold prediction about the future of the PGA Tour and the PIF merger. Harrington believes that the merger agreement is not something that will actually happen.
Speaking ahead of the 2024 Open Championship, Harrington commented that there was not enough time for the golfers to split between both tours, making the merger impossible. He said (via NUCLR Golf):
"They are never going to merge those two tours, there's not enough time for two tours like that. Players don't necessarily want to play that much or play outside the (United) States. It's not going to be an actual merger."
Harrington, however, did say that there was a possibility of an agreement where there would be a free flow of movement between both tours to create a healthy rivalry.
"What they need is an agreement where they can have a crossover between the two tours a bit like the old days with the PGA Tour and European Tour when there was a bit of a rivalry."
Padraig Harrington will be playing the 2024 Open Championship that will be held from July 18 to 21 at the Royal Troon Golf Club. The Irishman won the major back-to-back in 2007 and 2008, giving him past champion exemption status.
Padraig Harrington plans to play Open Championship till 2032; hopes his exemption status will end with him playing at Portmarnock
Padraig Harrington's wins at the Open Championship have given him past champion exemption till the age of 60, which is till 2032. Harrington hopes that his last exempted major will be in his home country of Ireland, at Portmarnock. Speaking via the Irish Golfer, he said:
“It would be very nice if it was to be my last year in 2032 that The Open came to Portmarnock. Hopefully, something can happen on that. It would be my last one… I’d be 60 that year. I know I'd try again [to qualify], you know what I am like. But I can't see it fitting in any date before 2030. So maybe wait an extra year.”
Padraig Harrington has played at the Open Championship since 1996. This is how he has fared over the years:
- 1996: T18
- 1997: T5
- 1998: CUT
- 1999: 29
- 2000: T20
- 2001: T37
- 2002: T5
- 2003: T22
- 2004: CUT
- 2006: CUT
- 2007: Winner
- 2008: Winner
- 2009: T65
- 2010: CUT
- 2011: CUT
- 2012: T39
- 2013: T54
- 2014: CUT
- 2015: T20
- 2016: T36
- 2017: CUT
- 2018: CUT
- 2019: CUT
- 2021: 72
- 2022: CUT
- 2023: T64
Harrington has made over $3.8 million playing at the Open Championship. This year, he will be competing against the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, and Bryson DeChambeau.