Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who leads the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), is set to meet with key figures from the PGA Tour, including commissioner Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, and Adam Scott. This meeting is scheduled for Thursday at the White House. The aim of their talks is to explore ways to bring together men’s professional golf.
The White House’s involvement comes as the U.S. Department of Justice reviews a proposed deal between the PGA Tour and the PIF, which funds LIV Golf. This review has delayed a potential agreement that could infuse the PGA Tour with $1.5 billion from the PIF. Both Woods and Monahan believe this deal could unify the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, which have been at odds since LIV started in 2022.
The first conversation with Trump took place on February 4. During that meeting, Al-Rumayyan participated via phone. Afterward, Monahan, Scott, and Woods issued a statement urging Trump to help for the benefit of golf and the wider community. Both Woods and Scott are key golf players involved in these negotiations.
Woods discussed the significance of the meeting on CBS during the Genesis Invitational. He had missed the earlier Oval Office meeting due to the loss of his mother that day. He expressed optimism about the situation, saying, “I think we’re in a very positive place right now. The fans want all of the top players playing together, and we’re going to make that happen.”
Monahan echoed this positive outlook, stating that the goal is for golf to operate with one unified tour featuring all top players.
Experts have suggested that the Trump administration might help move the deal along in the regulatory process because of Trump’s connections to both the golf industry and the PIF. His son-in-law, Jared Kushner, reportedly received a $2 billion investment from the PIF, and several LIV Golf events have taken place at Trump golf properties.
However, the future remains uncertain for players who shifted to LIV Golf, like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Phil Mickelson. While LIV Golf recently announced plans to return to Adelaide, Australia, for the next several years, it’s still unclear what this reunification could mean for its players and the tour’s direction going forward.
Source link
Golf, Sports Business
