PGA Tour and PIF talks accelerating but issues remain, says Jay Monahan

MIAMI – The PGA Tour’s negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) are accelerating but it is prepared to go alone with new partners Strategic Sports Group (SSG) if a deal cannot be done, commissioner Jay Monahan said on March 12.

Monahan, speaking at TPC Sawgrass where the Players Championship gets under way on March 14, stressed that he is focusing all his energy on finalising a deal with the LIV Golf backers.

“I do believe that negotiating a deal with PIF is the best outcome,” he said. “Obviously, it has to be the right deal for both sides, like any situation or negotiation.

“I recently met with the governor of the PIF, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, and our negotiations are accelerating as we spend time together.

“We have a shared vision to unlock golf’s worldwide potential.”

There have been reports a deal could be finalised before the start of the season’s first Major, the Masters in April, but several key issues still need to be worked through.

Monahan remained tight-lipped about negotiations while conceding several hurdles remain, including an investigation by the United States Justice Department to determine if the deal would violate antitrust law.

There is also the tricky issue of players who signed with LIV Golf for monster paydays returning to the PGA Tour and how the team component LIV has pushed might work.

“Balancing the interests of a membership of 200 plus players is complicated, and it’s challenging,” added Monahan, when asked about returning players.

“I think it requires open-mindedness, it requires flexibility and it requires a long-term view and a long-term vision.

“I think we’re not going to be able to satisfy everyone, and that goes for both sides.”

While he did not want to speculate on a deal collapsing, he said, if it did, the PGA Tour would push forward with the help of the US$3 billion (S$4 billion) investment from SSG, a consortium of US sports team owners.

“We’ll continue to compete and be as strong a tour as we can possibly be, with a great new investor in SSG, with a lot of opportunity for that growth,” he said.

While Monahan is steadfast in his belief that he is the right person to lead the PGA Tour into the future, that confidence is not shared by all the star players he represents.

“He could be the guy but, in my book, he’s got a long way to go to gain the trust of the membership,” world No. 6 Xander Schauffele said, following the commissioner’s press conference.

Schauffele has been blunt about his lack of trust since Monahan negotiated a framework agreement with PIF last June without the input of the tour’s players.

The fallout was swift, widespread and many believe it contributed to the likes of world No. 3

Jon Rahm bolting for LIV Golf.

Monahan acknowledged in his speech that he could have “handled that better” but insisted: “I am the right person to lead us forward. I know that. I believe that in my heart.”

Schauffele was among those who remain sceptical.

“I’m sure he’s got the support of the (player) board, since they were with him making some of those decisions but, for me, personally he’s got quite some ways to go,” he said.

Schauffele was not part of the investment discussions, which were led in part by the Player Advisory Council that includes Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay and Adam Scott.

Cantlay has not been in the negotiating room, but he receives constant updates and is part of the group communicating those to the full membership.

“I think it’s really important that we’re all rowing in the same direction,” he said.

“I think with this PGA Tour Enterprises board, it’s really exciting that we do have a chance to kind of start with something new and all move together in the right direction.”

Asked about Monahan specifically, world No.7 Cantlay said: “Right now, he’s definitely our leader.” REUTERS