Jordan Spieth Disputes McIlroy’s Claim of Failing PGA-Saudi Negotiations
Jordan Spieth Contradicts Rory McIlroy’s Claim of Crumbling PGA Tour-Saudi Talks: ‘Things are Actually Moving Positively from Both Sides’ Jordan Spieth, who holds a seat on the PGA Tour policy board, has directly contradicted recent claims made by Rory McIlroy regarding the status of the PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) merger talks….
Jordan Spieth Contradicts Rory McIlroy’s Claim of Crumbling PGA Tour-Saudi Talks: ‘Things are Actually Moving Positively from Both Sides’
Jordan Spieth, who holds a seat on the PGA Tour policy board, has directly contradicted recent claims made by Rory McIlroy regarding the status of the PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) merger talks. McIlroy, who was excluded from these discussions weeks ago, expressed a severe lack of confidence in the merger process following the departure of Jimmy Dunne from the PGA Tour policy board during last week’s PGA Championship. McIlroy stated that his confidence in a successful deal was at an all-time low.
However, Spieth, who shares the policy board with notable figures like Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Peter Malnati, and Webb Simpson, provided a different perspective when speaking to reporters at this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge. Spieth dismissed the notion that negotiations were faltering, stating, “I think the narrative that things are in a bad place and are moving slowly and, you know, some of the things that are asked to me or said are untrue.”
Spieth continued, “I think that I — I know that it’s false, actually. Things are actually moving positively from both sides. I think ultimately we’ll end up in a place where professional golf is maybe the best that it’s ever been. I think both sides believe that.”
While acknowledging the inherent frustrations of deal-making, Spieth emphasized that he is not directly involved in the negotiations. Nevertheless, he assured that the discussions remain cordial, with open dialogue facilitating progress. “From what I do know, it’s cordial, there’s open dialog, and it’s moving along at the pace that it’s moving along. And anything else that’s said about it is just, I just know to be false,” he asserted.
Spieth expressed his optimism about the outcome, believing that the players will continue to receive more information over the coming months, which should help alleviate concerns. “I think that’s starting to resonate amongst players as they’re able to get more and more information on the matter and it will continue to get more and more information over the coming months,” Spieth said.
Jimmy Dunne, who played a crucial role in bringing the PGA Tour and the Saudi PIF to the negotiating table last June, resigned from the board, citing his position as “utterly superfluous” after being reportedly frozen out of the talks. Despite his resignation, reports from the New York Times indicate that the possibility of a deal remains “very much alive.”
Spieth reiterated his belief in the positive direction of the talks, despite the challenges and frustrations inherent in such high-stakes negotiations. His comments suggest a more hopeful and progressive outlook for the future of professional golf, contrasting sharply with McIlroy’s recent pessimism.