PGA Tour-Saudi Deal May Miss Deadline As Obstacles Grow

As negotiations continue to stall, the self-imposed Dec. 31 deadline for the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to complete a deal to form a new commercial entity could be pushed back.

Recently, the PGA Tour began receiving unsolicited interest from U.S.-based investors looking to potentially join or even replace the PIF in financially backing the future pro golf landscape. 

Now, antitrust concerns and how much control will be ceded to PGA Tour players are among the biggest issues slowing talks down, according to Bloomberg. 

Under the framework agreement agreed to by the three parties involved, the commercial operations of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PIF-backed LIV Golf would fall under a new company, PGA Tour Enterprises. That entity would have PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan as CEO and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan as chairman.

Even if the sides reach a deal before the end of the year, logistics could make it difficult to fully reintegrate LIV golfers before 2025.

The PGA Tour has already released its 2024 FedEx Cup schedule, and LIV has reportedly nailed down the majority of its 2024 dates, many of which go head-to-head with major PGA Tour tournaments.

LIV acting COO Gary Davidson previously told Front Office Sports the league would have no problem with its golfers also playing in PGA Tour events on weeks LIV was not in action.