[PHOTO: James Gilbert]
Jordan Spieth confirmed on Friday evening, Florida time, that he and the other player directors on the PGA Tour’s Policy Board are being “strongly encouraged” to meet with the head of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
The news of a possible secret meeting with the governor of the PIF was first reported by Golfweek on Friday. Numerous sources told Golfweek‘s Eamon Lynch that this potential meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday at a private residence in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Spieth was asked about this report after missing the cut after a second-round 72 at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
“We are being encouraged to potentially meet with them at some point, yeah,” he said.
Spieth did not go into any detail about who else would be there or if it was taking place three days from now, though he did say he believes this potential meeting could be beneficial for both parties.
“I’m not sure that I can say much more other than we’re being encouraged to potentially meet with them,” Spieth said. “But at the same time we probably feel like our membership should know timing and what could happen… We are being encouraged, obviously, which I think is probably a good thing that the entire board should if there’s going to be any potential for a negotiation.”
This comes just days after PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said “we’ve made and continue to make real progress in our negotiations and our discussions with the PIF”, adding, “I recognise that this is frustrating for all of you, but it really is not in the best interest of the PGA Tour and our membership and for PIF for me to be talking about where we are with specific elements of our discussions.
“I would just stress the fact that we’re engaged, we’re making progress,” Monahan said. “But I’m really not at liberty to share any of the details on that front.”
The commissioner also added that a negotiation with PIF would be the “best outcome”.
