PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan told reporters Wednesday that discussions are headed in the right direction as it relates toward the potential unification in professional golf with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Monahan, however, said that he will not hold public negotiations as a means to further the issue.
“I know you’re eager to know more,” Monahan said, “but I will go back to the meeting that we had just two Fridays ago in New York where our entire transaction committee, including Tiger Woods and Adam Scott being in person, and Rory (McIlroy) dialing in from the Memorial Tournament alongside Yasir Al-Rumayyan and representatives of the PIF. It was a very productive discussion.”
Monahan noted that “regular dialogue” exists between the PGA Tour and PIF, even going so far as to reveal that he was included on a call at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
“So, I would like to give you more, but we’re, I would say to you that there were a lot of important aspects that we talked about in that meeting, aspects that will be important toward a final agreement that we got consensus on, and there are a number of areas that we recognize that we weren’t going to, but identified them, and that’s what we’re focused on and that’s what we’re working on,” he said.
Monahan also dismissed the notion of any misconceptions about the discussions between the two entities.
“I mean, there are a lot of people (who) seem to think that there are things that are happening that aren’t happening, but ultimately we’re the arbiters of that,” Monahan said. “Listen, I understand there’s a lot of attention and there’s going to be … a lot of opinions and they’re probably gonna be a lot of rumors. And it’s part of the position I and all of us find ourselves in … we’re focused on trying to get to the right outcome. The right outcome for players, for our fans, for the game of golf. That’s where our focus is.”
The PIF also funds LIV Golf, which lured numerous stars away from the PGA Tour with massive contracts and the promise of lucrative tournament prizes.
PGA Tour and PIF negotiations aside, Monahan also applauded the success of the Signature Events — and noted that this week’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn., will be one again in 2025.
“Well, we have an agreement — this is the 18th year with Travelers, and we have an agreement, they’re in a 10-year agreement through 2030, and this event will be a Signature Event in 2025.”
–Field Level Media