PGA Tour Deny European Tour Purchase Bid

The PGA Tour’s reported hot pursuit to purchase the European Tour has been denied by commissioner Tim Finchem.

A number of reports had circulated that suggested the United States-based PGA tour had made a bid for its European rival.

“Certain news reports today have indicated that the PGA Tour has made an offer to acquire the European Tour,” he said in a statement. “Those reports are inaccurate.

“However, as I have stated publicly on several occasions, the integration of professional golf can create additional value for our players, sponsors and fans.

“Such integration has been ongoing since 1994, with the founding of the International Federation of PGA Tours, and has led to the establishment of the World Golf Championships in 1999 as well as the World Cup as a Federation-sanctioned event.

“More recently, all the major golf bodies around the world worked together to bring golf back to the Olympic Games.”

Some players on the European Tour have become frustrated at what they see as its failure to make the most of its potential, while the eurozone’s financial turmoil has led to gaps on the calendar and less prize money than on the PGA Tour.

“There are so many good things about the European Tour, and it can be such an unbelievable product, given the places we go to and the players we have.”

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