PGA Tour boss sounds the alarm with answer to LIV Golf question
**PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan Discusses Ongoing Negotiations with LIV Golf Ahead of Tour Championship** PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan provided updates on the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s Saudi backers ahead of the Tour Championship at East Lake. Speaking to reporters in Atlanta, Monahan acknowledged that while discussions are ongoing,…
**PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan Discusses Ongoing Negotiations with LIV Golf Ahead of Tour Championship**
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan provided updates on the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s Saudi backers ahead of the Tour Championship at East Lake. Speaking to reporters in Atlanta, Monahan acknowledged that while discussions are ongoing, significant progress toward finalizing the deal remains elusive.
Monahan, 54, emphasized the importance of bringing the best golfers back together, highlighting that both sides are approaching the negotiations with the right mindset. Despite this, he cautioned that the complexities of the discussions mean they will take time, and no immediate resolution is on the horizon. “Ultimately, we are trying to bring the best players in the world back together,” Monahan stated. “We have the right people at the table with the right mindset. I see that in all of these conversations, and that’s both sides. That creates optimism about the future and our ability to come together.”
However, Monahan was careful not to reveal too much, reiterating that the negotiations are ongoing and productive, but also complex. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the things the PGA Tour can control while the discussions continue. “As I sit here today, I think the most important thing for us and our obligations to our fans, our players, and our partners is to focus on what we control, which we’re doing, as I outlined, and to continue to carry this momentum forward,” he said. “But I’m not going to negotiate details in public or disclose details or specifics. All I can say is that conversations continue, and they’re productive.”
The original framework agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s backers, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, was reached on June 6, 2023, with a deadline for finalization set for December 31, 2023. However, that deadline passed without any significant updates, and it wasn’t until March 2024 that key PGA Tour player directors, including Tiger Woods, first met with LIV Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the Bahamas. Al-Rumayyan, who also serves as the governor of the PIF, is the driving force behind LIV Golf.
Reports circulated before the U.S. Open that both sides had exchanged terms, but these claims were never substantiated. Adding to the complexity is the PGA Tour’s private equity deal with Strategic Sports Group, which may impact the PIF’s position in the negotiations. Monahan clarified that there is no strict deadline for reaching a deal with the PIF this year, stating, “I don’t think we want to restrict ourselves in that way. We want to achieve the best and right outcome at the right time.”
The possibility of LIV Golf players rejoining the PGA Tour was another topic of discussion. Monahan remained noncommittal, deferring to Tyler Dennis, the PGA Tour’s Senior Vice President and Chief of Operations, to address the matter. Dennis explained that players who have never been PGA Tour members would face a one-year waiting period before they could return to the Tour after participating in unauthorized events. For those who were previously members, Dennis hinted that additional guidelines and tournament regulations would apply but declined to provide further details.
In summary, while there is optimism surrounding the ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s backers, significant challenges remain. The discussions are progressing, but there is no immediate deadline or resolution in sight, leaving the future of professional golf still uncertain.