PGA Tour, PIF working without deadline for agreement

ATLANTA — PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said there is no deadline for the ongoing negotiations with the Public Investment Fund, which backs LIV Golf, over the future of men’s professional golf.

“I don’t think we want to restrict ourselves in that way,” Monahan said Wednesday, eight months after the PGA Tour and PIF blew past the original Dec. 31, 2023 deadline to come to an agreement. “We want to achieve the best and right outcome at the right time.”

During his second official press conference since the December deadline for negotiations was “extended,” Monahan again did not offer any new information or updates about the PGA Tour’s discussions with the PIF. Announced on June 6, 2023, the “framework agreement” has only effectively stopped the litigation between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Otherwise, the negotiations have not been settled, and the game continues to be fractured. There is no deadline, and no end in sight.

This year, Monahan has maintained that he will not publicly negotiate with the PIF. On Wednesday, he did not stray from that statement, dodging questions regarding the stalled discussions, concern from the tour’s sponsors and partners, and pathways for LIV players potentially returning to the PGA Tour. On those pathways for LIV players returning to the PGA Tour — even the ones that might be relegated from the league or have expiring contracts — Monahan instead pointed to college stars and DP World Tour players emerging as young, new talent.

“The system that we have, which extends to the international tours around the world, is really performing at a really high level, and that’s what we’re excited about,” Monahan said.

The commissioner insisted that the PGA Tour and the PIF are in “regular dialogue,” and that the ultimate goal is to bring the game back together. He also noted that all six player directors — including the newest, Tiger Woods — and the Player Advisory Council met in Memphis two weeks ago during the St. Jude Championship.

“You know, I think when you look at where we are today and when you think about — and what we hear from fans and what we’re hearing from players, ultimately we’re both in a position to bring the best players in the world back together. I think that’s a good and aspirational goal,” he said. “As I said earlier, we’re in those discussions. We’re at the table. They’re complex, and it’s going to take time.”

While offering no concrete updates about the PIF, Monahan instead leaned on his confidence in the PGA Tour’s new partnership with Strategic Sports Group (SSG), a group of private investors and major sports team owners. The PGA Tour’s decision to bring in SSG has given players equity in the tour as well as a $3 billion investment.

“Now that we have significant capital to invest, it’s about creating the right structure to allow us to be able to identify the opportunities that are going to help strengthen the PGA Tour going forward,” Monahan said. “They’re not just investors. They’re in the meetings. They’re at the table. They’ve gained a true understanding of this complex business. Now they’re in a position to influence it in really positive ways.”

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(Photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)