There will be more to come on this breaking news story surrounding the PGA Tour and LIV Golf
There will be more to come on this breaking news story surrounding the PGA Tour and LIV Golf There will be more to come on this breaking news story surrounding the PGA Tour and LIV Golf
The PGA Tour are finally set to end their long-standing dispute with their rivals at LIV Golf with a peace deal worth a whopping £1 billion.
Ever since LIV’s formation in 2022, the PGA Tour have been at war with the Saudi-backed circuit, banning any player who has competed in a LIV event. Last June however it appeared peace was on the horizon after the Tour announced a shock framework agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).
In the 17 months that have followed the two sides have been locked in negotiations, but it seems they have finally come to an official agreement.
Per The Sun, the Saudi Arabian fund will invest £1 billion into the PGA Tour which in turn will give PIF an 11 percent stake in the American-based circuit. According to the report, they will also receive two positions on the PGA Tour board, including the role of chairman.
There is something in it for PGA Tour players who opted to turn down an initial move to the LIV setup too, with PIF making investments into a fund set up to reward those who remained loyal to the Tour. One of those was Rory McIlroy, who proved to be a long-time critic of the breakaway league.
It has been revealed however that the Northern Irishman played a key role in peace talks alongside Tiger Woods. McIlroy discussed the deal finally getting over the line at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last month, where PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan partnered LIV chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the Pro-Am event.
(
Image:
Getty Images)
“Maybe it’s going too slow for the people that follow golf,” the four-time major champion claimed in Scotland. “In the business world, deals of this size take time. You are talking about billions of dollars changing hands, different jurisdictions. I think we’ll know a lot more by year’s end.
“We’re in October so hopefully three months to get something done.” Clearly welcoming the coming together of former rivals, McIlroy claimed: “I think it’s a great thing and good sign that Jay and Yasir are going to play together.
“And obviously you’ve got quite a big contingent over from LIV that are playing in this event. I think what Johann Rupert (who owns Dunhill) the man who runs this event is trying to do is just bring the golf world back together a little bit.
“If we need to be forced together in some way, he’s trying to do that. I think it will be good. It’s certainly a step in the right direction.” Whilst the agreement is yet to be signed off by PGA Tour players, it is expected that they will also be on board with the deal.
Mirror – Sport
