The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia was not involved in the multibillion-pound agreement that the PGA Tour recently announced with the Strategic Sports Group.
Dustin Johnson, the leader of LIV Golf, is not paying much attention to the PGA Tour’s decision to collaborate with Strategic Sports Group (SSG).
The Tour declared its partnership with SSG at the end of the previous month. SSG promised to invest £2.4 billion ($3 billion) in PGA Tour Enterprises, the circuit’s new for-profit organization. Seven months after the Tour declared its intention to collaborate with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), the deal was finalized.
The ugly dispute between the PGA Tour and PIF over LIV Golf was expected to end with an agreement, and the circuit was expected to welcome back the players it had suspended for switching to Saudi Arabia.
However, as of right now, no deal has been finalized between the two competitors; instead, SSG and the American-based circuit are shaking hands. Even though it might worry those working on the LIV setup, Johnson, one of its most well-known names, seemed unconcerned.
When asked what he thought of the PGA Tour-SSG partnership, he replied, “To be honest, I have no idea,” to the Daily Mail. Well, of course I understand the general idea—a group is contributing financial resources to the tour—but that’s about it. Nothing on it has been read by me.”
While LIV has not been involved, Bryson DeChambeau has welcomed the investment, suggesting that not all of his fellow stars are as apathetic. He declared last month, “Look, I don’t know exactly how it’s going to shake out, when it’s all said and done.”
“I’m not sure what that actually means for the PIF’s role in it. What I can say is that, particularly on their end, any investment made in the game of golf is enormous. “You’re just going to see both entities continue to grow, and I hope at some point we’ll come back together,” he continued, expressing optimism that the SSG deal would help bring the Tour and LIV closer. It must take place.
“What’s best for the game of golf and for fans in general is for people to just put down their weapons and come to the table and figure it out. However, as I previously stated, investing more money in golf is always beneficial. I’ve said that ever since.”
A blow was dealt to the planned merger between the two circuits and the DP World Tour in December when they failed to approve the agreement by the end of the year, which was originally scheduled for June of last year. The PGA Tour is still in talks with PIF despite the setback and the SSG investment, and they hope to reach an agreement before the April Masters.
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