Yasir Al-Rumayyan said Strategic Sports Group's investment with the PGA Tour was in line with what LIV Golf has tried to accomplishgetty images
Saudi Arabia PIF Gov. and LIV Golf Chair Yasir Al-Rumayyan on Thursday “took a diplomatic approach in a message to LIV players” following the PGA Tour’s “
massive investment” from Strategic Sports Group to form a new for-profit company, according to Bob Harig of SI. Al-Rumayyan also “made it clear that LIV Golf will ‘maintain incredible momentum.’” He told players on the eve of the LIV Golf League's 2024 season opener that SSG's investment of close to $3B in a new company called PGA Tour Enterprises “is consistent with PIF’s longstanding passion to grow the game.” Al-Rumayyan, who has not spoken publicly since the PGA Tour merger announcement with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan last June, “did not get that specific” in his letter that was delivered to players on Thursday afternoon (
SI, 2/1). GOLFWEEK’s Adam Woodard wrote “words matter” and Al-Rumayyan “chose his carefully by hedging any guarantee of an investment.” He also “amplified the PIF’s investment in LIV” and “made it clear the league plans to continue to grow whether or not a deal is reached, as seen with new player signings and eight of 14 events outside the United States” (
GOLFWEEK, 2/1).
A NEW DIRECTION: SI’s Alex Miceli noted with the for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises, the Tour “has a path that will finally bring it into the 21st century.” PGA Tour player and policy board member Adam Scott said, “That was a pretty big risk to leave our business model in the same place too much longer.” He added, “And so, it felt always to me like, we were going to get to a point where we're probably going to change the kind of business structure of the PGA Tour and ended up hopefully having a really good deal to vote for in front of us.” Scott “sees the SSG investors’ business savvy as the Tour's potential savior,” of course along with their $3B investment. Scott said, “This is like a line in the sand if it wants to be for the PGA Tour, and you can put everything on the table right now as far as I'm concerned. Yeah, let's have a look at the whole lot.” Miceli wrote the ideas are “starting to flow and as time goes on those ideas will germinate, continue to grow and create other ideas.” Which idea will work or which one “makes the most sense is part of a much bigger discussion” (SI, 2/1).
