PGA officials, but not LIV execs, to testify before US lawmakers

WASHINGTON – PGA Tour officials Jimmy Dunne and Ron Price will speak before a United States Senate hearing into

the tour’s merger deal with Saudi backers of LIV Golf

next week, lawmakers said on Monday.

US Senate permanent sub-committee on investigations chairman Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, and Republican ranking member Ron Johnson announced the details in a joint statement.

Testimony had been sought from LIV chief executive officer Greg Norman and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) governor Yasir al-Rumayyan but neither will appear at the hearing on Tuesday.

Blumenthal in June asked the PGA Tour and LIV Golf for communications and records on their planned merger as part of an investigation, citing concerns about the Saudi government’s role in the deal and risks posed by a foreign government entity assuming control over the sport.

Price, the tour’s chief operating officer, and Dunne, a PGA Tour board member,

will appear instead of PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan,

who announced the controversial deal with al-Rumayyan in June. This came after more than a year of ripping LIV and the Saudis to help keep PGA players from jumping to the upstart rival circuit launched in 2022.

Monahan has stepped away from day-to-day PGA Tour duties since June as he deals with an undisclosed medical situation, with Price handling most of those duties.

Dunne was reportedly a major negotiator of the deal that created a new for-profit entity with major PIF investment, an agreement that came as a surprise to players on both tours.

The hearing will examine the proposed deal between the PGA Tour and PIF and the tour’s plans under details of a June agreement that wiped out duelling lawsuits between the rival camps.

Senators have raised antitrust worries as well as concerns with Saudi Arabian human rights issues as it invests in sport entities worldwide.

“We appreciate the PGA Tour working with us and look forward to a robust, thoughtful exchange with both Ron Price and Jimmy Dunne on July 11, focusing on the details and background of this deal and what it means for this cherished American institution,” the senators said.

Representatives for Norman and al-Rumayyan told the sub-committee they could not testify due to schedule conflicts.

“Both governor al-Rumayyan and Mr Norman have valuable information to share about the operations of the Public Investment Fund, the future of LIV Golf, and Saudi Arabia’s plans to invest in golf and other sports,” the senators said.

“Consistent with our sub-committee’s practice, we look forward to working with both witnesses to find a mutually agreeable date for them to appear in the very near future.” AFP, REUTERS