ATLANTA — PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan reiterated his confidence in ultimately reaching a definitive agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, with a Dec. 31 deadline almost four months away.
Speaking during his annual “state of the tour” press conference on Tuesday from the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, Monahan said he was “certain” an agreement would be reached, resulting in a “positive outcome” for the Tour and its fans.
While he wouldn’t specify how far along negotiations are, Monahan said there are “frequent talks” and the process is “right where I would expect” it to be. “There’s an intensity and there’s an urgency, and there’s a lot of good work that’s being done,” he said.
Part of negotiations concern how and when LIV Golf players would be allowed back on the PGA Tour. When asked by Front Office Sports about whether that could be in 2024, Monahan said, “These are the kind of topics and discussions that we’re having right now with PIF. So, to be able to project what’s going to happen, I don’t have any answer today.”
If there’s another Senate hearing examining the PIF deal, Monahan is willing to testify. He had agreed when first asked, but his dates didn’t work, which is why he didn’t take the stand at July’s hearing.
“The PGA Tour will continue to comply with the requests that come our way, and if there’s a request for me to be there, then I will be there,” Monahan said.
