Report: PGA Tour rejects $1.5 billion investment offer from Saudi Arabia's PIF over LIV Golf continuation

The PGA Tour has rejected the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) most recent offer to invest $1.5 million into PGA Tour Enterprises, the tour’s for-profit entity, with assurance that LIV Golf could remain in its current form, per Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated. The PIF’s proposal also came with the caveat that governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan serve as co-chairman of PGA Tour Enterprises’ board.

London based newspaper The Guardian reported that the PGA Tour replied to the PIF on Monday and deemed the proposed arrangement unacceptable. The PGA Tour wants one premier circuit for men’s professional golf, while the PIF wants to continue with two. Now, talks appear to be back at square one.

Both sides have been negotiating for nearly two years since they came to an agreement on a framework to end the division in men’s golf in June 2023. LIV golf operates with 13 four-man teams and two wildcard players competing in 54-hole events for a $25 million purse. The PGA Tour has been willing to include team competitions at international venues in the fall.

“We will not do so in a way that diminishes the strength of our platform or the very real momentum we have with our fans and our partners,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said at last month’s Players Championship, via Mark Schlabach of ESPN. “So, while we’ve removed some hurdles, others remain. But like our fans, we still share the same sense of urgency to get to a resolution.”

Both sides met at the White House on Feb. 20. The meeting included Al-Rumayyan, Monahan, PGA Tour Enterprises vice chairman Tiger Woods and PGA Tour player director Adam Scott. President Donald Trump met with Monahan and Scott in Washington on Feb. 4.

President Donald Trump pushing for PGA Tour, LIV Golf merger

LIV Golf’s fifth event this year, LIV Golf Miami, takes place this weekend at Trump National Doral golf resort. Trump arrived at the resort Thursday and met with officials and players over dinner, according to Harig. Trump wants the rival tours to merge.

“Ultimately, hopefully, the two tours are going to merge. That’ll be good. I’m involved in that too,” Trump said. “But hopefully we’re going to get the two tours to merge. You have the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour. And I think having them merge would be a great thing.”

LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil doesn’t believe the circuit needs to strike a deal with the PGA Tour to survive. “I love where we are,” O’Neil said Tuesday.

“If the deal can help grow the game of golf I’ll jump in with two feet,” O’Neil said. “Do we have to do a deal? No. It would be nice to do a deal, so long as we’re all focused on the same things. So do we have to do a deal or need a deal, whatever word you use, leave that to somebody smarter than me. I will say I love what we’re doing, I love our prospects. Love the growth in three months. I know what’s coming in the next three months. And I love where we are.”

Among those who left the PGA Tour in favor of LIV Golf are past major champions Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Cam Smith and Dustin Johnson. They, along with other LIV Golf players, will be in the field for The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club next weekend.