A fresh claim has emerged about one of the major sticking points amid ongoing talks between both parties over the proposed PGA Tour and LIV Golf merger amid alleged demands from players

A binding agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf over a proposed merger has “inched closer” – but a final deal is purportedly being held up as players request that defectors on the breakaway circuit hand back their contracts.

Despite the plan for a new for-profit entity encompassing the two rival tours and the DP World Tour being announced last summer, progress has been slow since then in terms of bringing it to reality. However, the meeting between PIF representatives PGA Tour figures in New York this month suggests that an ongoing appetite for an agreement to be struck.

A report from Bloomberg has now claimed that a “sticking point” in the discussions centres around Jon Rahm’s £386 million ($500m) deal with the Saudi Arabian tour. According to their sources, PGA Tour stars are pushing for the Spanish superstar to hand back the money he made through joining LIV at the start of the year.

The report also alleges that players on the American circuit have requested that other defectors also give away the cash they have accrued. They claim that options such as LIV stars ‘paying fines to participate in events, giving to charity, or agreeing to forfeit any future career winnings on the PGA Tour have been mooted.

As it stands, it is purported that Rahm and his fellow defectors have pushed back on these proposals, refusing to ‘agree any terms that would penalize them for taking a risk and leaving the PGA Tour’. Speaking recently, Rory McIlroy addressed the desire from both sides for a deal to finally be struck.

He told BBC Sport: “I think everyone in the game would love there to be one [a resolution]. A solution is hard to get to because there are different interests and people want different things.”

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan recently spoke about his approach to the proposed merger

“There’s going to have to be compromise on both sides but hopefully they’re the things they’re talking about in those meetings. I’m hopeful and hopefully we’ll be hear some good news in the foreseeable future where things start to come back together.”

Meanwhile, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan recently revealed the approach he was looking to take in terms of the talks, as he said: “You look at where we are right now, we’re in regular dialogue, we have the right people at the table with the right mindset.

“I see that in all these conversations on both sides, that creates optimism about the future and our ability to come together. At the same time, these conversations are complex, they’re going to take time. They have taken time and they will continue to take time.

He added: “When I sit here today, I think the most important thing is our obligation to fans, players and partners is to focus on what we control, which we’re doing as I outlined and continue to carry this momentum forward. I’m not going to negotiate details in public or disclose details or specifics, but all I can say is that conversations continue and they’re productive.”