- French screen legend Depardieu faces sexual assault trial
- Japan PM vows to stay on despite election debacle
- Record number of women win seats in Japan election
- Vinicius favourite for Ballon d'Or in post-Messi/Ronaldo era
- Milan and Inter back on long road towards a new San Siro
- Oil prices tumble as Iran fears ease, yen weakens after Japan polls
- Olympus CEO resigns over alleged illegal drugs purchase
- After disastrous election, what happens to Japan's new PM?
- Bangladesh immunity order sparks fears of justice denied
- North Korea says probe 'proved' Seoul to blame for drones
- Wallabies return to Perth and Townsville for 2025 Tests
- Left, center-right candidates to duel in Uruguay presidential runoff
- Australia rest Test stars for Pakistan T20 series
- New storm bears down on Philippines after deadly Trami
- 'Wiped off the face of the Earth': How Russia erased a Ukrainian city
- Teacher vs veterinarian: Uruguay's presidential frontrunners
- Down to the wire: Trump, Harris in final week push
- NFL Chiefs stay unbeaten as Commanders win on miracle catch
- Trump's New York rally attacks Harris, draws criticism
- Maxey scores 45 points to propel 76ers over Pacers
- Left, center-right candidates to duel in Uruguay presidential runoff: estimates
- Debutant Sears shines as US women rally to beat Iceland
- Sainz achieves wish with one more win for Ferrari
- Japan PM under pressure after debacle election
- Timothee Chalamet crashes his own look-alike contest
- McLaren say Verstappen penalties 'not enough' after 'ridiculous' Mexico move
- Eight-try Toulouse flatten Toulon to go top of Top 14
- Ohtani expected to play in World Series game three after injury scare: Roberts
- Centre-left opposition leads in Lithuania election
- Sainz wins Mexico Grand Prix as Norris makes most of Verstappen penalty
- Trump leads New York rally as Harris targets grassroots
- Centre-lift opposition leads in Lithuania election
- Injured Springbok Willemse to miss November Tests
- NFL Browns upset Ravens while Tagovailoa loses in comeback
- Yildiz saves Juve in eight-goal thriller at Inter as Napoli pull away
- Bolivia's ex-president blames govt as shots fired at him
- Japan ruling coalition projected to lose majority in election
- Yildiz drags Juve back from brink in eight-goal thriller at Inter
- Ford added to England squad for New Zealand clash
- Faltering Atletico stumble again at Real Betis
- Ohtani to play World Series game three after injury scare - report
- In uncertain US election, two prestige papers refuse to pick sides
- England's Slade eager to face New Zealand after Exeter return
- 'Venom' still kills, topping N.American box office
- Conservatives top Bulgarian elections but fall short of majority
- Liverpool hold Arsenal in Premier League title clash, Man Utd beaten
- Chelsea's Palmer reminds Maresca of Blues favourite Zola
- Bayern thump Bochum to retake Bundesliga top spot
- Salah strikes late as Liverpool snatch draw at title rivals Arsenal
- Georgia opposition calls election results protests as president accuses Russia
LIV players say a Masters win won't impact PGA merger talk
Barely two weeks after Brooks Koepka became the first active LIV Golf player to win a major, the PGA Tour and LIV's Saudi backers announced a framework merger agreement.
Ten months later, as the 88th Masters prepares to tee off Thursday at Augusta National with 13 LIV players in the field of 89, there's still no finalized agreement to end the PGA-LIV split.
With talks between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) having stretched well beyond a December deadline, there's a sense that not even another major triumph by a LIV player could have an impact on negotiations.
"I don't think it would really affect it. I think there are already too many good players on every tour," said Chilean Joaquin Niemann, a two-time LIV winner who received a special invitation to play the Masters after winning last year's Australian Open.
"I don't think a LIV player has to win the Masters to change things. I think things are changing already, and they're going to come up with a solution."
LIV Golf players have won three of the past five majors, including Koepka at the 2023 PGA Championship -- although defending Masters champion Jon Rahm and 2022 Open Championship winner Cam Smith of Australia were in the PGA when they took the titles.
Current LIV players took the top three spots in last year's Masters, Rahm followed by Koepka 2and six-time major winner Phil Mickelson.
"From a negotiation standpoint, I don't think it'll change much," 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau said of a Masters win by a LIV player.
"The negotiations are going on with or without a win. I think if a LIV player were to win, we would all be extremely excited and happy for whoever that individual is.
"I'm not so sure for the other side, but that's for them to make up their own emotional state."
If winning won't push merger talk closer to a deal, what can LIV players do?
"Continue to talk to players on both sides, just show that there's a mutually beneficial ground, a peace that I hope a lot of people can start to see," DeChambeau said.
"I'm just a bystander trying to play some golf and help advocate for the fans to win again. They need to win.
"The only thing I wish is that we can all see eye to eye on some things and that we can come back to some level playing field where we can all have some fun together."
Players who jumped from the PGA to LIV are banned from PGA events and finding a way for them to return is among the sticking points to a merger deal.
For the moment, majors are the stage where top LIV and PGA talent compete against each other.
"We'll see how things shake out," said DeChambeau. "Would I like to play a few (PGA events)? Sure, ones that I truly enjoyed."
- Togetherness is best -
Players have agreed the atmosphere has been congenial at Augusta National.
"I don't think there's any issues at all with anybody," US veteran Fred Couples said.
Spain's Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters winner and LIV player, disputed any hint of tensions.
"There's nothing," Garcia said. "You guys love to kind of dig and just kind of try to make it sound like we get in the locker room and we're fighting each other and stuff like that. It's not like that.
"At the end of the day, it's golf. We're all trying to play the best way we can, and that's it."
He'd also like to see a deal soon, too.
"Obviously the more togetherness you get, the better it is for everyone," Garcia said. "There's no doubt about that."
L.Harper--AMWN