In a private conversation, the man in charge of LIV Golf’s massive financial resources allegedly does not want to see the PGA Tour close down his “baby.”
It’s been several weeks since the golf world was turned on its head from the stunning revelation that bitter rivals the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV Golf had come to terms on a merger between the three top leagues in the sport. Yet the fallout from the news continues to reverberate throughout the sport.
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PGA Tour players have blasted the move after being loyal and not defecting to LIV Golf for huge paydays. LIV players celebrated it since it would open the door to a possible return to the PGA and DP. It also led to an official inquiry from Congress into a merger that will see golf’s most prestigious league in bed with the Saudi Public Investment Fund and its connection to a government with a horrid human rights history.
Recently, as more details of the merger are revealed it has become clear that the PGA will have a lot of say in the future of the company that will oversee all three tours, and a board led by Tour executives will evaluate LIV Golf and it’s future at the end of the season. It has led to speculation the Saudi-backed tour could be scrapped altogether after losing hundreds of millions during its first year and scoring poor ratings in its second season.
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However, if it were up to Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Arabian PIF, LIV will continue for many years ahead. On Thursday, Sports Illustrated reporter Alex Miceli covered the upstart tour’s current event in Spain and plans for Al-Rumayyn to speak with leaders of the various LIV Golf teams.
While most LIV players have no idea of what’s to come following the merger, and if the tour will even continue, one player reportedly claims that the PIF Governor has a sweet spot for it and referred to it as “my [expletive] baby” during a conversation about LIV’s future.
Quite a few LIV Golf players reportedly would like to remain in the league and aren’t looking to return to the PGA Tour for more than an event or two per year. While it is unclear what role Al-Rumayyan will have in the new company if any, the PIF is expected to make a major investment into the company and the PGA, so it is hard to believe he won’t have a lot of influence on the eventual decision on LIV’s future.