SAN FRANCISCO – England’s Tyrrell Hatton has signed with LIV Golf ahead of the breakaway circuit’s third season, The Telegraph reported on Jan 29.
The world No. 16 reportedly landed a deal in the US$65 million (S$87 million) range. He is set to link up with his close friend Jon Rahm and play for the Spaniard’s team – the world No. 3 joined LIV in a bombshell £450 million (S$764 million) move in December.
Hatton, 32, is listed in the field for this week’s Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA Tour but is expected to withdraw in order to tee it up at LIV Golf Mayakoba, its season-opening event in Mexico also held this weekend.
He has earned about US$22 million in prize money on the PGA Tour and has won once on the circuit, at the 2020 Arnold Palmer Invitational.
His best finish on the PGA Tour last season was a runner-up showing at The Players Championship in March. He also tied for second at the BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour in September.
Poland’s world No. 42 Adrian Meronk is the other major signing made by LIV ahead of the start of the new campaign on Feb 2.
Meanwhile, the PGA Tour is close to finalising a historic investment from a United States consortium, according to people familiar with the matter.
The initial investment from Strategic Sports Group (SSG) could be about US$3 billion, with an additional tranche from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sources said, asking not to be named discussing ongoing talks.
The deal could value PGA Tour Enterprises – the for-profit entity created to house the Tour’s commercial interests – at about US$12 billion, one of the people said.
The deal may not initially include the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, with talks continuing on how to include the rival league.
Any potential investment and valuation could still change, the sources added.
A spokesperson for the PGA Tour declined to comment. SSG could not be reached for comment.
The Fenway Sports Group-led consortium entered into final negotiations to be a US co-investor in December. The group also includes New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s family office Cohen Private Ventures, and Marc Lasry, a former co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The deal has faced delays over how much control PGA Tour players would have within the new league, broadcast and sponsorship contracts and the PIF’s role.
REUTERS, BLOOMBERG
