Gary Player has slammed the impasse in negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

The rival golf tours remain in talks over a possible merger between them to bring the world’s top golfers back under one banner.

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Player has called for a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf[/caption]

However, it is unlikely to be completed before the end of this year.

The sport’s top stars have been split between the PGA Tour and LIV since the Saudi-backed league was launched in 2021.

Player has now called for the merger to be completed sooner rather than later after growing frustrated at seeing players not have to beat the best to win tournaments.

Speaking at an event, the nine-time major winner explained: “I think the PGA, we made the mistake in the beginning when the Saudis, all they wanted was five tournaments, to put in $20million dollars per tournament.

“Think about that – and they were turned down. That was the start of the war.

“Then they got Greg Norman, who I’m very friendly with. He’s had a personal vendetta against the PGA for ages.

“So it started off badly and it’s not going to get better. Now when you win a tournament, can you honestly say, ‘I’m beating the best in the world’?

“We wanted to beat the best. And let me tell you, you had Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin… You can go down the line.

“These guys are such fierce competitors. Now, you win a tournament, can you honestly say, ‘I beat the best in the world’?

“For me that’s sad. The people want to see that. There’s a bit of stubbornness on both sides.”

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The nine-time major winner feels players are not beating the best to win tournaments[/caption]

The 89-year-old is not confident a deal will be reached anytime soon, though.

However, talks are ongoing to unify the sport again by ending golf’s civil war.

Player added: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. How are they going to help people like myself and Arnold – who’s gone – and Jack? They’ve come up with a system… and it’s bad.

“They’ve taken $75million (£59m), they put it there for 36 guys, the guys who won the most majors, made the most cuts, played the most tournaments, they get a certain amount of money.

“That money is put into an investment company and it might not do well and you might not get anything. The first payment we’re gonna get is when I’m 91. Will I be alive? I hope so. Jack Nicklaus, I don’t know whether he will be.

“The second payment is when you’re 98. But here’s the sad thing, you’ve got a guy like Larry Nelson, won three major championships, captained the Ryder Cup.

“Tony Jacklin won the British Open and US Open and a host of tournaments worldwide. Dave Stockton won PGAs. They’re getting nothing.

“They’re not even on the list. Can you imagine how they feel just being discarded like that? The whole thing is a mess. Do they [PGA and LIV Golf] want to get together?

“A conclusion should have come about at least last December. It’s lingering and you’ve got a guy like Jimmy Dunne, who’s the most perfect man for the situation, he’s resigned.

“Then someone said, ‘They can come back on the tour if they give their money back’. Are you crazy? You gotta give $540m back?

“No siree. That’s a lot of money.”

The 2025 PGA Tour is set to get underway with a signature event in Hawaii next month as players compete in The Sentry.

Meanwhile, LIV’s fourth season will kick off in February with the first of 11 scheduled events for the year being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.