“It's money trying to buy the game” – When Jack Nicklaus gave his hot take on the PGA Tour-LIV Golf negotiations

The merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is one of the most followed and spoken about developments in the world of golf. While the two tours agreed to a framework last year, the merger hasn't taken place yet, and many golf greats have given their take on the matter.

One such great to give his take on the PGA Tour-LIV Golf negotiations was Jack Nicklaus. Last year, during a podcast on the YouTube channel "Sir Nick Faldo," Nicklaus said the PGA Tour and Liv Golf negotiations were money trying to buy the game. The 84-year-old golfer said:

"It's money trying to buy the game. It's trying to buy respectability. And I don't think that that is really what it's all about. I think that somebody from Europe basically said that they think they're trying to buy the ability to sit on the Veranda at Augusta National and have simple mint julep with membership and be accepted. And that's what they're trying to do. It's getting acceptability within the mainframe of the game of golf." (9:20-9:53)

For those unaware, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf announced a framework agreement in June 2023. After this announcement, both parties have missed two deadlines, and there is no update about when the merger will take place.

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How many majors has PGA Tour veteran Jack Nicklaus won?

Jack Nicklaus had one of the most legendary golf careers, if not the most. Throughout his professional career, Nickalus registered 117 wins. Here is a detailed list of the Majors Jack Nicklaus won:

1. U.S. Open 1962

• Overall Score: −1 (72-70-72-69=283)

2. Masters Tournament 1963

• Overall Score: −2 (74-66-74-72=286)

3. Event: PGA Championship 1963

• Overall Score: −5 (69-73-69-68=279)

4. Masters Tournament (2) 1965

• Overall Score: −17 (67-71-64-69=271)

5. Masters Tournament (3) 1966

• Overall Score: E (68-76-72-72=288)

6. The Open Championship 1966

• Overall Score: −2 (70-67-75-70=282)

7. U.S. Open (2) 1967

• Overall Score: −5 (71-67-72-65=275)

8. The Open Championship (2) 1970

• Overall Score: −5 (68-69-73-73=283)

9. PGA Championship (2) 1971

• Overall Score: −7 (69-69-70-73=281)

10. Masters Tournament (4) 1972

• Overall Score: −2 (68-71-73-74=286)

11. U.S. Open (3) 1972

• Overall Score: +2 (71-73-72-74=290)

12. PGA Championship (3) 1973

• Overall Score: −7 (72-68-68-69=277)

13. Masters Tournament (5) 1975

• Overall Score: −12 (68-67-73-68=276)

14. PGA Championship (4) 1975

• Overall Score: −4 (70-68-67-71=276)

15. The Open Championship (3) 1978

• Overall Score: −7 (71-72-69-69=281)

16. U.S. Open (4) 1980

• Overall Score: −8 (63-71-70-68=272)

17. PGA Championship (5) 1980

• Overall Score: −6 (70-69-66-69=274)

18. Masters Tournament (6) 1986

• Overall Score: −9 (74-71-69-65=279)

Apart from winning the aforementioned Majors, Jack Nicklaus also set some records. He has won the most Majors (18), Masters (6), PGA Championships (5), and U.S. Open titles (4).