Golf’s big divide shows no signs of healing, with the PGA Tour turning down a massive $1.5 billion investment offer from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
The deal fell apart over two major sticking points, according to The Guardian. The Saudis wanted their LIV Golf series to keep running as-is, and they wanted their man Yasir Al-Rumayyan to co-chair the new combined company.
PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan said no to both demands.
It’s a pretty big setback for golf fans hoping to see all the world’s best players competing together again, especially with The Masters just around the corner.
The split has been dragging on for almost two years now, ever since Monahan and Al-Rumayyan first shook hands on what was supposed to be a game-changing partnership through PGA Tour Enterprises.
But here’s the thing – the PGA Tour isn’t exactly desperate for cash anymore. They just got $1.5 billion from another group called Strategic Sports Group, which means they’re not in any rush to make a deal.
“Takes two to tango,” said Rory McIlroy recently, hinting at what he sees as stubbornness from the Saudi side.
Jordan Spieth has been even more direct, suggesting they don’t even need a deal at all.
One of the biggest headaches is figuring out how LIV Golf players could return to the PGA Tour – something that’s got a lot of current Tour players worried.
The Saudis want their 14-event team competition to stay exactly as it is. That’s causing major scheduling problems for any plan to get all the top players competing together more often.
LIV Golf’s new CEO Scott O’Neil seems pretty relaxed about the whole thing.
“If the deal can help grow the game of golf I’ll jump in with two feet,” he said before LIV Golf Miami. “Do we have to do a deal? No. It would be nice to do a deal, so long as we’re all focused on the same things.”
The bottom line? Everyone says they want to work something out, but nobody’s willing to give up any ground to make it happen. Looks like golf’s civil war isn’t ending anytime soon.
