02 September 2023 , 22:38
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The PGA Tour and LIV Golf backers the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) are still yet to sign off on a deal, after initially reaching an agreement to merge in June.
The world of golf was left shocked on June 6, after the Tour confirmed its plans to work alongside PIF, ending their dispute with the LIV Golf setup. On the back of the announcement the U.S. Senate called on members from both sides of the agreement to provide further information on the proposed deal.
In July, PGA Tour chiefs Jimmy Dunne and Ron Price appeared in front of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to defend the circuit's decision to work with the Saudi fund.
The subcommittee - that is led by Senator Richard Blumenthal - also called on PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan to appear before them in aid of the investigation into the agreement, but the Saudi national is yet to make to comply. It has since been reported by Politico that PIF have called on U.S. lobbying firm Akin Gump Strauss & Feld to represent them amid the Senate probe.
In a letter to the Senator Blumenthal, the firm claimed that the Governor Al-Rumayyan was unable to attend the hearing as it could cause disruption to 'foreign relations and international diplomacy'. It read: "[Al-Rumayyan] cannot participate in any public hearing that is part of an unbounded inquiry into the PIF’s past, present, and future interests and investments...
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Yasir Al-Rumayyan is yet to provide evidence to the U.S. Senate (AP)"An unprecedented effort by the Subcommittee to compel [Al-Rumayyan’s] appearance and testimony would not only disrupt the delicate balance of foreign relations and international diplomacy, but would also compromise the prerogatives of the Executive Branch." According to Golf Channel, Blumenthal had contacted the Saudi governor's representatives at least twice since the initial hearing on July 11.
Amid the letter put together by lawyer, Raphael Prober it was confirmed that a deal between PIF and the PGA Tour had still not been officially agreed. This comes a week after Tour commissioner Jay Monahan revealed there he saw 'no reason' why the deal would not be signed off come the December 31 deadline.
"We're confident that we're going to reach a positive outcome for the PGA Tour," Monahan said. "And as it relates to reason not to believe or believe, you know, at this point, given what Tyler [Duncan] just outlined and what I said, no, I don't have any reason to think that we won't be successful."