Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, once again, is reportedly close to reaching an agreement with the PGA Tour, 18 months after the bombshell framework news was announced.
Bloomberg reports that the Saudis are nearing a deal to acquire 6% of the PGA Tour’s commercial arm. The news comes after the PIF and PGA Tour were reportedly close to a $1bn deal last month.
But, with LIV Golf still eyeing PGA Tour players and no definitive end in sight, the saga has dragged on for far too long.
Furthermore, little information has been shared about what the PGA Tour and LIV Golf League could look like once an agreement is signed.
Michael Kim, a current PGA Tour player, has revealed what he believes could happen if the latest reports do come true.
What latest PGA Tour-LIV Golf agreement could look like
Taking to X on Tuesday evening, Kim believes the potential merger will only impact the biggest names in the sport.
“I’ve said this for a while now. It’s not a big mashup of two into one. It’s going to be more of a Champions League format where the top guys play each other’s top events a few times a year,” Kim wrote. “Each side is content with where they’re at… (which may point to an even bigger issue…).”
Kim added: “While I’m on this topic. It feels as though the leadership at the PGA tour is somewhat content with where the tour is at. The top players are happy because they’re making more than ever before, and the tour is happy because the threat of LIV was so scary in the beginning.”
PIF-PGA Tour saga must end soon
Golf fans are, rightfully, getting frustrated with the current PIF-PGA Tour saga. Every three weeks, a new report emerges suggesting an agreement is close only for players to officials to shut down speculation.
Of course, working out a viable future for LIV and the PGA Tour will take time, but 18 months have passed since the 2023 agreement. Surely, those in positions of power will have an idea of what the future holds.
Clearly, the game’s elite players – Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, etc. – are desperate for reunification. Much like the DP World Tour allows, LIV players returning for specific PGA Tour events must occur, and a similar route could be opened up for some PGA Tour stars to appear on the Saudi-backed venture.
Yet, until an agreement is formally announced, it’s hard to get genuinely excited about what a reunified game could look like.
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