A final agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf “isn’t imminent after a series of deadlines have come and gone," though players, who have “become more powerful than ever, want an agreement,” according to sources cited by Hirsch, Kessler & Warner of the N.Y. TIMES. Talks are “intermittent and a lot of obstacles need to be navigated.” PIF Gov. Yasir Al-Rumayyan “held a summit in the Bahamas” that included his "first official meeting with the players" on the PGA Tour policy board. The meeting was "productive for fostering good will between the sides,” but there was “no agreement on merger details.” Big questions “remain unresolved,” such as whether a deal would "create a monopoly." The U.S. Department of Justice “plans to scrutinize any tie-up.” If LIV were to disappear, it would be a “red flag to regulators.” But it could also be “contentious if LIV continues.” As part of the original framework agreement, Al-Rumayyan would serve as the chair of the joint entity, which “could irk regulators." To sign a deal, the two sides also “need to agree on a valuation” as LIV is “propped up by the huge amount of capital" the PIF can tap. The dollar value of LIV's teams has “yet to be determined, and there are questions within the tour over whether that model works at all.” Revenue from LIV’s media rights, which include a deal with the CW network, is “thought to be paltry.” The likelihood that LIV “makes a significant amount on site at tournaments is also slim” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/13).
POSITIVE TALKS NOT CLOSE: PGA Tour player Tiger Woods said that last month’s meeting between the player directors on the policy board and Al-Rumayyan, was a “’positive’ step toward a possible reunification of the professional game.” GOLFCHANNEL.com’s Rex Hoggard noted after The Players Championship, the player directors and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan met with Al-Rumayyan in the Bahamas, a gathering seen in many circles as a "crucial step" toward a possible deal between the Tour and PIF. Sunday at the Masters, Woods said, “I don’t know if we’re closer [to a deal with PIF] but certainly we’re headed in the right direction. That was a very positive meeting and I think both sides came away from the meeting feeling positive.” Last month’s meeting was the first that involved the player directors, which include Woods, Player Dir Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson and Jordan Spieth (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 4/14).
FEELING IS DIFFERENT: GOLF’s weekly roundtable discussed if this week felt “any more meaningful” given the fracture in the game of golf. Senior writer Josh Sens said he is not sure the tournament itself “felt significantly different.” Sens added but like the other majors, it “does remind us of what the pro game has lost the rest of the year.” Assistant editor Zephyr Melton said, “Maybe not more meaningful, but it did remind me how much having a fractured pro game sucks.” Senior editor Nick Dimengo said, “Only getting to see the best players compete against one another four times a year just isn’t fair. Get this thing figured out, fellas, because golf fans deserve better drama no matter what event it is!” (GOLF, 4/14).
