June 11, (THEWILL) – In the ongoing saga of the potential merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s Saudi backers, a pivotal meeting last week has brought the two sides closer to an endgame. Tiger Woods, part of the PGA Tour’s negotiating committee, described the talks as “productive” and suggested light is emerging at the end of the tunnel after over a year of discussions.
The high-stakes meeting on Friday in New York involved Woods, Rory McIlroy, and other PGA Tour representatives meeting with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and his team of negotiators. “We discussed a lot of different endings and how we get there. Both sides walked away feeling very positive,” Woods remarked on the discussions exploring potential resolutions.
Since LIV Golf’s controversial launch in 2022, backed by Saudi millions, numerous star players like Jon Rahm have departed the PGA Tour lured by lucrative contracts and the upstart tour’s 54-hole format. However, no final merger deal has materialized despite last June’s framework agreement as the two sides grappled with divergent visions for professional golf’s future.
“Both sides were looking at different ways to get to the endgame,” Woods explained. “There are going to be differences of opinion, but we all want the same thing.” For now, fans can only see all the game’s top players competing at majors like this week’s US Open at Pinehurst, where 13 LIV golfers are in the field.
McIlroy echoed Woods’ positive sentiment, calling the meeting “productive, constructive, and collaborative” with “a lot of progress made.” As negotiations continue, he acknowledged learning about legal and investment nuances, noting PIF’s aim: “They want a return on their investment. It doesn’t seem like they’re getting that at the minute within golf.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
