Negotiations between the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia are continuing, with the two sides jetting into New York on Tuesday for a series of talks.
The PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) are in talks over the Middle Eastern setup pumping a whopping £760 million ($1bn) into the Tour’s new for-profit entity, PGA Tour Enterprises.
The PGA Tour and PIF have been in negotiations for some time, after the American-based circuit’s commissioner Jay Monahan announced a framework agreement plan with the Saudi fund last June. As part of the deal, it was expected that the ongoing fallout between the Tour and LIV Golf would come to an end.
On Tuesday, ESPN reported that representatives from the PGA Tour – including 15-time major champion Tiger Woods – met with members of PIF in New York, with in-person talks set to take place over the next couple of days in the States.
As per the report, a key component of the talks is the multi-million pound funding PIF could offer to the Tour’s for-profit business formed in partnership with Strategic Sports Group (SSG) earlier this year. Updates on the discussions have been limited in recent months, with privacy appearing key in negotiations.
The latest insight into how the peace deal was moving along came from Monahan late last month, as the commissioner addressed the Saudi discussions at the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta. “You look at where we are right now, we’re in regular dialogue, we have the right people at the table with the right mindset,” he said.
“I see that in all these conversations on both sides, that creates optimism about the future and our ability to come together… At the same time, these conversations are complex, they’re going to take time,” he conceded. “They have taken time and they will continue to take time.
Today, as I sit here, I believe it is crucial for us to prioritize the needs of our fans, players, and partners. We should concentrate on things that are within our control, as I have explained, and keep moving forward with the progress we have made.
I will not discuss any specific details publicly or reveal any information, but I can confirm that discussions are ongoing and have been productive.
Monahan stated that having productive conversations increases the chances of positive results and improves the mood of those conversations. This is the current situation.
Woods flew to New York to attend meetings this week and discussed the PIF talks during his last public appearance at The Open Championship.
I can confirm that we are moving forward,” he stated in July. He mentioned that he cannot provide further details because negotiations are confidential. The discussions are at a high level and being kept private.
Progress is being made and things are evolving. There is a positive exchange of ideas on how the future of the game could potentially be shaped.
“It’s about legally bringing everything together. The Department of Justice is overseeing this to ensure we follow the rules and that everyone involved benefits financially.
Everyone wants to make money and see a return on their investment.”