Competitive Strategy Lessons from the LIV Golf and PGA Tour Merger

This interview podcast uses a Harvard Business School case study of the LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger as a lens to discuss disruptive innovation and competitive strategy in professional sports. The discussion begins by outlining the background of the conflict between the established PGA Tour and the newly formed LIV Golf, highlighting LIV's use of significantly higher player compensation and innovative tournament formats to attract top golfers. The interview then analyzes the PGA Tour's initial responses, including suspensions and increased prize money, before culminating in a discussion of the surprising merger announcement and its implications for the future of professional golf. A key takeaway is the tension between what's best for the PGA Tour as a business versus what's best for the sport of golf as a whole, demonstrating the complexities of managing competition and innovation in a monopolistic market.