It looks like the meeting between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will finally take place this Monday, March 18, although not in Ponte Vedra Beach as originally reported.
Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch, who first broke the story of the meeting, reported Monday that two private jets had departed for the Bahamas, one belonging to the PGA Tour and the other to John Henry, one of the principals of Strategic Sports Group (SSG). According to Lynch’s new report, Tiger Woods’ private jet and one registered to Aramco/PIF are already in the Bahamas.
Available information assures that the meeting will be attended by the PGA Tour Player Directors (Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Jordan Spieth, Peter Malnati, Webb Simpson and Adam Scott), as well as Liaison Director Joe Ogilvie. Apparently, other representatives of the circuit and the SSG will also be present. On the PIF side, its governor himself, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, is expected to attend.
The Agenda of the PGA Tour/PIF meeting
Rumors of this meeting started on Friday and the attention of the golf world has not been 100% on it just because The Players Championship was taking place. However, it did not go unnoticed that, over the weekend, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was spotted at a New York Mets preseason game accompanied by Steve Cohen, another important member of the SSG.
Several player directors confirmed over the weekend that the meeting proposal was indeed on the table. Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson and Adam Scott discussed the issue at TPC Sawgrass, although they did not share specific details of the agenda.
However, the meeting is expected to find a way to expedite an agreement between the PGA Tour and the PIF that would address the divide that currently exists in men’s professional golf. Recall that the PIF funds LIV Golf, a rival circuit to the PGA Tour that has recruited several of the American circuit’s top stars. The PGA Tour has responded by banning these players from its events, taking star material away from its own tournaments.
The presence of Tiger Woods is also expected to be a major factor in the negotiations.
For More Golf Content & News:
Subscribe to our Free Golf Notifications for breaking news, exclusive interviews, and much more. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in golf news, click here! You can also find us on Social Media…
Instagram –> @almostaveragegolf
Tik Tok –> @almost_average_golf
