What’s the latest on the PGA Tour-PIF talks? Here’s what Jay Monahan said
Jay Monahan continued to be coy on the negations between the PGA Tour and Saudi PIF.
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Not much.
On Wednesday, as PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, gave his annual end-of-the-season press conference at the Tour Championship from Atlanta, he touched on numerous topics including the future of the PGA Tour schedule, to the new pathways that are being taken advantage of to join the PGA Tour, to the Tour’s new PGA Tour Studios and the future of golf on TV.
But one subject Monahan gave very little clarity on, despite being asked four questions on the matter, was the status of the negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
“We’re at the table and actively engaged with the Public Investment Fund,” Monahan said in his opening statement, echoing previous hesitancy to update on the talks directly. “We remain hopeful about that outcome. But at the same time, we’re moving forward at speed and focused on what we can control, because that’s what we owe to our fans.”
The PGA Tour and the PIF, the parent of PGA Tour rival LIV Golf, originally came to a framework agreement last June to merge their commercial golf operations, shocking the golf world after nearly two years of conflict between the two leagues. That framework agreement had a deadline of December 31st, 2023, but that deadline came and went with no full agreement and without one in clear sight.
In January, the PGA Tour accepted a massive investment from a consortium of sports owners known as the Strategic Sports Group, but continued to say talks with the PIF were ongoing and remained firm that the goal was coming to an agreement.
On Wednesday, Monahan affirmed that the Tour was in a “regular dialogue” with the PIF, but did not get into specifics about what that meant. He also claimed the priority to get a deal done on both sides “has been enhanced.”
A year later, no PGA Tour-PIF deal. Was it ever close? Is it coming soon?
“That’s a direct result of dialogue and conversation and really starting to talk about the future, future product vision and where we can take our sport,” he said. “I think when you get into productive conversations, that enhances the likelihood of positive outcomes, and that enhances the spirit of those very conversations.”
As of now, Monahan said there is no deadline to come to an agreement or drop the framework altogether.
“I don’t think we want to restrict ourselves in that way. We want to achieve the best and right outcome at the right time.”
Monahan has been coy for details on the negotiations for months saying the Tour would not “negotiate details in public.”
He reiterated that stance on Wednesday.
“These conversations are complex. They’re going to take time. They have taken time, and they will continue to take time,” he said. “As I sit here today, I think the most important thing for us and our obligations to our fans, our players and our partners is to focus on what we control, which we’re doing, as I outlined, and to continue to carry this momentum forward.
“But I’m not going to negotiate details in public or disclose details or specifics. All I can say is that conversations continue, and they’re productive.”
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