The start of the end may be near with a PGA Tour and LIV Golf draft agreement supposedly signed on the eve of the US Open – but the finer details are yet to come
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf appear closer than ever to a monumental merger after a ‘draft agreement’ was reportedly signed ahead of the U.S. Open.
According to controversial Phil Mickelson biographer Alan Shipnuck, a draft deal regarding an agreement between PGA Tour Enterprises and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was signed. His source is a ‘prominent agent’ with clients on both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
It is unclear what the agreement means or what the details of any ‘agreement’ may mean. Back in June 2023, LIV Golf sensationally agreed to merge with the PGA Tour and suggest an end to golf ’s immense divide.
Saudi’s PIF has received staunch opposition since it began entering sports, with many – including the PGA Tour itself – pointing to its human rights atrocities as a factor. When LIV Golf controversially launched two years ago, many golfers spoke out against the circuit even as several stars signed on for huge sums.
In February, the PGA Tour approved a $3 billion investment deal with Strategic Sports Group; the deal gave almost 200 PGA Tour members the opportunity to hold equity in PGA Tour Enterprises as part of a reward for staying loyal and shunning LIV Golf. This came as merger talks were disrupted by US Government intervention.
But it seems the merger will still happen. News of a ‘draft agreement’ being signed comes after 15-time major champion Tiger Woods insisted the recent New York City meeting with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan was ‘productive’.
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LIV Golf Chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, is central to talks
Woods, who is set to compete at the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst this week, has stood by Rory McIlroy as the rise of LIV Golf left professional golf fractured and divided. However, the PGA Tour stalwart said : “It was productive. And is there light at the end of the tunnel? I think we’re closer to that point than we were pre-meeting. We discussed a lot of different endings and how we get there.
“I think that both sides walked away from the meeting, we all felt very positive in that meeting. As I said, both sides were looking at different ways to get to the end game. I think that both sides shared a deep passion for how we need to get there. And yes, there are going to be differences of opinion, but we all want the same thing.”
Perhaps the light at the end of the tunnel is closer than Woods is letting on.