Although a deal between the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and the PGA Tour has not yet been finalized, players from the American circuit are now expected to participate.
Regarding a potential deal with the LIV Golf backers, Jordan Spieth and the other Player Directors on the PGA Tour have disclosed that they have been instructed to meet with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).
The PGA Tour announced a shocking framework agreement in June of last year, and since then, they have been in talks with their Saudi rivals to bring professional golf back together. Despite missing their first deadline of December 31, the American-based circuit is still in the process of finalizing a deal with PIF, nine months later.
Now that Spieth has opened up about the status of talks at this week’s Players Championship, it seems that active PGA Tour players will be involved in helping to close a deal.
Spieth confirmed on Friday that the Tour’s Player Directors were getting close to holding a covert meeting with PIF chief Yasir Al-Rumayaan, as first reported by Golfweek. “We are being encouraged to meet with them at some point,” he stated following his failure to make the cut at the TPC Sawgrass.
Spieth continued, keeping things under wraps regarding the specifics of the planned meeting: “I’m not sure that I can say much more other than we’re being encouraged to potentially meet with them. However, we also think that our members ought to be aware of the timing and potential outcomes.
Naturally, we are being encouraged, and if there is any chance of a negotiation, I believe it would be beneficial for the board as a whole for everyone to do this.”
Adam Scott is one man who is expected to be present at the proposed meeting, and the Australian seems eager to begin talks with their possible Saudi partners.
Scott feels that more of the same is essential as part of any agreement with PIF, having already contributed to the PGA Tour’s decision to work with the Strategic Sports Group (SSG) earlier this year. In the end, players have a say in whether a deal is made or not, just as they did with SSG, he told the AP.
“It is crucial, in my opinion, that we have all gotten along, regardless of how anyone feels, given the gravity of the issues we are voting on. If PIF believes that our meeting will be beneficial, then let’s move forward with the business at hand. Whatever the result, I want to get this resolved. And everyone can move on.
Following the shocking framework agreement announcement, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, who has been feeling the heat from his players, acknowledged earlier this week that he had personally met with Al-Rumayaan and that talks between the two parties are “accelerating.”
He stated, “I recently met with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the PIF, and our negotiations are accelerating as we spend time together.” We all share the same vision to silence the critics and realize golf’s full potential on a global scale, even though there are still a number of important issues that need to be resolved. I reiterate my remarks from the August Tour Championship, but it will take some time. I anticipate success for both the PGA Tour and the sports industry overall.”
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