GOLF.AI • Today

Golf's Ghost League: The $1B LIV Precursor

Before LIV Golf launched and ignited a civil war in professional golf, a different, potentially collaborative, billion-dollar league was secretly in the works. Spearheaded by Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, the plan for 'Global Golf' was brought to one of Hollywood's most powerful figures: Ari Emanuel, the CEO of TKO Group, which owns UFC and WWE.

Unlike the confrontational approach later taken by LIV, Emanuel’s vision was non-combative. He saw a team-based league that could co-exist with the PGA Tour, much like how teams in the English Premier League operate alongside traditional structures. "We get a call from Phil and Bryson, I think, before the Saudis," Emanuel revealed. "And I say, yeah, I'm in. I think this would be incredible." He was critical of the path LIV eventually took, stating, "I would have done it differently, not in a combative situation."

Emanuel's plan was ultimately derailed. He claims intervention from PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, combined with existing business relationships held by his company, Endeavor, stopped the project from moving forward. This revelation reframes the narrative of golf's recent turmoil, offering a tantalizing 'what if' scenario where a more stable, integrated future for the sport might have been possible, potentially avoiding years of litigation and division.