ORLANDO, Fla. — The PGA Tour and LIV Golf, a Saudi-funded group, have revealed their merger plans, placing sports and politics at the forefront of discussions.

This union has significant implications, particularly for tournament fields, as 48 players had cut ties with the PGA Tour to join the LIV Golf Tour.

The departure of these players opened up spots for several up-and-coming golfers. However, with the merger, those spots are now likely to vanish.

One golfer directly affected by this merger is Kamaiu Johnson, who golfs at local courses in Orlando.

Johnson expressed his honor in receiving a sponsor's exemption to participate in the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill for two of the past three years.

Reflecting on the experience, Johnson stated, "Everybody wanted to be like Mr. Palmer coming up. Just to be out there on his grounds that he created in such an elite tournament, I just felt welcomed by the PGA Tour and by the Palmer family, and I was just blessed to be a part of it."

However, with the PGA Tour and LIV Golf merging, Johnson understands that his chances of receiving such an invitation next year are slim.

Disappointed, he remarked, "Ya no invite. Obviously not."

The absence of notable players from this year's Arnold Palmer Invitational, such as Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell, and Lee Westwood, who have all joined LIV, did not go unnoticed.

Johnson admitted, "Still good, but you knew something was missing. At the end of the day, people can say what they want to say, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and those guys bring a different vibe to the game."

Dr. Adrien Bouchet, from the DeVos Sports Business Management program at UCF, believes this merger will undoubtedly create a different atmosphere within the sport.

Dr. Bouchet highlights concerns about human rights issues and the cost of war associated with the Gulf states and Saudi Arabia. He wonders if golf fans will make these concerns a significant factor in their support of the game.

"It will be interesting to see if they come out with any type of unified message to tame down any type of political threats to the golf tour," said Dr. Bouchet.

Johnson acknowledges that if he wants to compete alongside top players like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, or Jon Rahm on Sundays, there is a simple but challenging solution: "At the end of the day, it's just play better. Yes, those opportunities are going to be limited now that guys are coming back."

The PGA Tour filed an antitrust lawsuit over a year ago against LIV, alleging that LIV was "using the game of golf to sportswash the recent history of Saudi atrocities."

However, this lawsuit was dismissed earlier this week.