The likelihood of a deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund appears close to being finalized after officials from both sides met for a reported four hours Thursday at the White House with President Donald Trump.
A critical piece in the process will likely come Monday evening when the PGA Tour Policy Board, which must approve any agreement, is scheduled to meet in south Florida.
Though no details of the White House discussions were shared, the presence of tour commissioner Jay Monahan, player directors Tiger Woods and Adam Scott and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan with the president was another indication of the gathering momentum toward announcing a deal.
The PGA Tour released a statement attributed to Monahan, Woods and Scott after the Thursday meeting that said, “We have just concluded a constructive working session at the White House with President Trump and H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
"I wouldn’t hold it against anybody if there were negative emotions attached to it, the thought of [LIV] players coming back. There aren’t easy answers to any of this stuff. Everyone is entitled to feel something about what’s happened.”
Adam Scott
“Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, we have initiated a discussion about the reunification of golf. We are committed to moving as quickly as possible and will share additional details as appropriate.
“We share a passion for the game and the importance of reunification. Most importantly, we all want the best players in the world playing together more often and are committed to doing all we can to deliver that outcome for our fans.”
Woods, Scott and Monahan also attended a Black History Month reception with the president on Thursday.
Since the tour and the PIF announced a framework agreement on June 6, 2023, Al-Rumayyan and the PIF have made no public comment about the negotiations.
However, The New York Times’ DealBook reported Al-Rumayyan hosted a party in Miami as part of the Saudi-backed FII Priority Conference on Thursday evening after returning from the White House meeting.
Upon entering the party, a DealBook reporter asked Al-Rumayyan about the meeting with Trump and he described it as “good.”
At the recent Genesis Invitational, Monahan spoke optimistically about the progress being made following an initial meeting with the president in early February.
“What it means is the reunification of the game, which is what we have been and are focused on. Candidly, that’s what fans want. So when you talk about reunification, that’s all the best players in the world competing with each other and against each other,” Monahan said.
Monahan stopped short two weeks ago of saying a deal has been reached.
“I don’t think you’re ever close until you’re finalized. I would say this: Everything is moving forward with pace and I think there’s a general – when you look at all the parties involved, there’s a general enthusiasm for getting this done,” he said.
Exactly what any such deal between the tour and the PIF would look like is uncertain.
There is the expected financial investment of the PIF into the for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises, which many expect to be similar to the $1.5 billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group that could grow to $3 billion.
The other part of the equation is what happens to LIV Golf and the players who left the PGA Tour to join the league. Some players who left for LIV sued the PGA Tour and many would have no official status on the tour if the opportunity to play was available.
Would LIV Golf continue as it is or would it be folded into the PGA Tour, allowing it to continue in some form?
During the Sunday telecast of the Genesis Invitational, Woods indicated players who left would have a path to return.
“I think that things are going to heal quickly. We’re going to get this game going in the right direction. It’s been heading in the wrong direction for a number of years and the fans want all of us to play together, all the top players playing together and we’re going to make that happen,” Woods said.
Scott acknowledged there could be some animosity among players if those who left for LIV’s riches were allowed back on the tour.
“I wouldn’t be surprised – or I wouldn’t judge anyone, the members – if reunification happened and they weren’t happy with how it happened. I wouldn’t hold it against anybody if there were negative emotions attached to it, the thought of players coming back,” Scott told the Associated Press.
“There aren’t easy answers to any of this stuff. Everyone is entitled to feel something about what’s happened.”
Ron Green Jr.