PGA Tour Policy Board members at odds over deal with LIV Golf, Saudi PIF

What certainly remains is that as time passes, professional golf remains divisive.

The world’s best players are competing in two different events this week as the great divide in golf continues. The distance between the two rival circuits is large, and geography serves as a metaphor to emphasize this separation. Bay Hill Club & Lodge and Hong Kong Golf Club are on opposite sides of the world.

The two sides will try to negotiate to resolve their differences and reunite the golf world.

But aside from the PGA Tour receiving a significant investment from Strategic Sports Group (SSG), nothing new has happened in recent months.

“[Discussions with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) have] It mainly happens between [them] PGA Tour policy board member Patrick Cantlay said Tuesday.

“I have nothing to add beyond what has been reported. However, negotiations are ongoing.”

But policy committee members are divided on the approach.

“I don’t think that’s the case. [an agreement with PIF] “We need that,” Jordan Spieth said at last month’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

“At this point, if the PIF is interested in agreeing on terms preferred by its members, and/or if the economic terms are equal to or not better than the SSG…I think that’s where discussions will start.”

Added Tiger Woods at Genesis Invitational:

“The deal with PIF is clearly in the works,” Woods said. “SSG, we have solidified the agreement with them, and the PIF is still ongoing, we are still negotiating.”

And at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, another Policy Committee member, Webb Simpson, said: spoke frankly Talking about the current state of golf with Bob Harig sports illustrated.

“I think we’re in a position where we want to make the right deal. We just don’t want to make a deal because we’re worried that the LIV Tour will recruit even more players. That’s certainly a fear.” said Mr. Simpson.

Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images

“But I think it’s clear. The writing is on the wall. We’re not in a position where we need to make trades for money. We need to make trades to get the game going. And for the long-term health of the PGA Tour. That’s my hope.”

Cantlay, Simpson, Woods, Spieth, Adam Scott and Peter Malnati have joined the newly formed Board of Directors of PGA Tour Enterprises, a new commercial entity first promulgated in the Framework Agreement on June 6, 2023.

Four members of SSG, including former player Joe Ogilvie, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, another PGA Tour executive, and Fenway Sports Group Chairman John Henry, make up the 13-member board of directors. ing.

Still, the new board does not include members of LIV Golf or Saudi PIF.

“What I am certain of is that fans, players, media and sponsors all feel strongly that the game is divided,” Simpson added.

“I don’t know what [LIV Golf and the PIF] want. We don’t know what players playing LIV want. I think they’re very happy with where they are. I think they are very happy with the decision they made. But I’ve heard from a lot of people that they’re a little disgusted with the current state of golf. I’m not pointing the finger at LIV or the PGA Tour or anyone else. ”

Simpson then relayed the state of the game to this week’s event at Bay Hill, home to one of the premier PGA Tour events of the season.

“When you come to a big tournament like the Arnold Palmer Invitational, you want to know who won by beating most or all of the best players,” Simpson said.

“We still have great players on the PGA Tour right now, but we also have great players in LIV. I just think about the health and longevity of the game and what the fans are used to seeing. [we need a deal]”

Photo by Paul Hennessy/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy, who resigned from the PGA Tour Policy Committee last fall, is also hoping for a deal.

“My dream scenario is a world tour, but the condition is that American companies continue to be a big part of that, and Saudi Arabia too,” McIlroy said at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

“It’s just basic economics. But there’s an untapped commercial opportunity there. Investors always want to get a return on their money.”

But to the frustration of golf fans who yearn for a unified circuit, board members have not met with representatives from PIF or LIV Golf.

“Honestly, we probably should have talked to them already,” Simpson said.

“I think the idea was to focus on SSG and getting that done. And once we solidified that and the board, we were going to start really discussing what it would look like for PIF to be involved or not to be involved.” was.”

Presumably, the newly formed PGA Tour Enterprise Board will meet with PIF representatives soon. Perhaps that will happen before all the top players from both circuits converge on Augusta National.

But as things stand, that seems unlikely, especially considering the PGA Tour’s lack of complete uniformity in player leadership.

Unfortunately, the biggest victims of this slow pace are fans who are desperate to see top players competing side by side.

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.