PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan revealed a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is far from being struck amid “complicated discussions”.
On Wednesday, Monahan admitted the release of the PGA Tour schedule for the 2025 season could be considered a sign there will be no radical changes next year. LIV Golf is yet to announce its 2025 schedule but has hinted at plans to play more international events.
Back in June 2023, reports emerged suggesting LIV Golf had agreed to merge with the PGA Tour to end golf’s divide. PIF has received staunch opposition since it began entering sports, with many criticizing its human rights atrocities - and the merger was a stunning development that left many players disillusioned.
The merger ensured the pending legal dispute between the tours was placed on the back burner to attempt to co-exist as a single entity, with a signed agreement seemingly set to combine the PGA Tour and LIV's commercial operations and rights into a new company, along with the DP World Tour . While news of the merger sent shockwaves around the sport, there has been no movement with tense negotiations taking place.
Speaking at TPC Southwind, Monahan said: “They’re very complicated discussions. There’s a lot of elements to them. When you have the level of interaction, we’re continuing to meet and move forward and discuss and debate, you can’t be anything but hopeful. As it relates to times and timeframes and where we are, I’ll just say we’re in a good place with the conversations. That’s the most important thing.”
When asked if he had any personal meetings planned with PIF, which funds LIV Golf, Monahan said: “I have a lot of meetings on the subject. I’m not going to get into the specifics of it. It’s a clear focus of mine, it’s a clear focus of the organization. That said, there is a lot of dialogue.”
Monahan took the opportunity to praise the PGA Tour’s deal with Strategic Sports Group (SSG) , which has pumped $1.5 billion into the for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises. But his comments suggest the two sides are far apart on any merger.
When asked if he saw an “end in sight” to the merger discussions , PGA Tour Policy Board player director Patrick Cantlay said: “Well, it's definitely quieted down, there hasn't been as much chatter the last few months, which has been nice. I think that's just kind of the nature of it. There's going to be ebbs and flows, depending on what kind of information comes out or what announcements.
“When you say 'end in sight,' it's always evolving. The PGA Tour has always been changing and trying to evolve and get better. Depends what you mean by—what you define as the finish line. But I know all of us are working incredibly hard all the time to get the best outcome.”
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