[PHOTO: Anna Moneymaker]
The PGA Tour announced that it has asked US president Donald Trump to help with its ongoing negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the financial backer of the LIV Golf League. The news came as part of a statement the tour released in which it confirmed that commissioner Jay Monahan and PGA Tour pro Adam Scott met with Trump on Tuesday.
When the tour and PIF announced their surprise framework agreement on June 6, 2023, the original goal was to finish a deal by the end of that year. However, the tour then had to seek supplemental investment to appease United States government antitrust regulations, and while that equity was acquired thanks to the Strategic Sports Group, talks stalled with PIF, the financial backer of LIV Golf. The December 2023 defection of Jon Rahm to LIV led to hurt feelings on the tour side, sources familiar with the tour proceedings told Golf Digest. PIF, meanwhile, looked at the tour’s solicitation with other private equity deals as a betrayal of sorts to the June 6 framework agreement. During the past year, little has been revealed about the status of the PGA Tour–PIF negotiations, with reports emerging that PIF was also entertaining a potential separate deal with the DP World Tour.
But towards the end of 2024, rumours began swirling that a deal between the PGA Tour and PIF was already in place, and that the sides were waiting for the Trump administration to take office before finalising anything as President Trump’s Department of Justice would be more willing to pass a deal. Helping matters is Trump’s relationship with Saudi Arabia and LIV Golf. Trump has had business ties with the Saudi league since its emergence in 2022, with LIV hosting events at Trump venues in New Jersey, Florida and outside of Washington DC. Moreover, Saudi Arabia invested $US2 billion into a private equity firm run by Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
During the first round of the WM Phoenix Open, the tour released a statement, suggest that a deal seemed to on the horizon and acknowledging President Trump is now a part of the discussions.
“We know golf fans are eagerly anticipating a resolution to negotiations with the Public Investment Fund and want to thank President Trump for his interest and long-time support of the game of golf,” the tour said in a statement. “We asked the president to get involved for the good of the game, the good of the country, and for all the countries involved. We are grateful that his leadership has brought us closer to a final deal, paving the way for reunification of men’s professional golf.”
LIV Golf began its fourth season overnight in Saudi Arabia. Due to antitrust regulations, it is likely LIV as a league will continue in some capacity should a peace treaty be reached.
