The agreement between PIF, the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund, PGA Tour and DP World Tour is admittedly commercial in nature. Obviously, the most important part is still missing, namely how this agreement will translate into practice, but it is too early to expect it.
The news, which would seem to have taken most of the recipients of the effects of the agreement by surprise, triggered different reactions in terms of extent and, above all, in terms of sentiment within the Tours. In assessing the situation, one important fact must be taken into account, namely that in the short term the effects of the agreement are practically non-existent, and that the Tours will continue on their current path.
Today we analyze the reactions in the field of LIV Golf. The first aspect is, obviously, that relating to the figure of Greg Norman. At the time of the announcement, the CEO of LIV Golf was left on the bench, unleashing a flurry of hypotheses about his future.
Well, the day after the fateful announcement, Norman held a videoconference meeting with more than 100 people from the LIV Golf staff, categorically ruling out the closure of the circuit, a statement that mirrors his tweet “The journey continues!”.
As reported by The Fire Pit Collective, the Australian told them: “Congratulations! You changed golf, and you did it in less than a year. There will be no operational changes in 2023, 2024 and 2025, nor in the future” “LIV is an autonomous entity and will continue to be so as it progresses.
And this statement comes directly from above (we are talking about the PIF top management, NDR)”. Norman underlined that there will be no interruptions also in terms of operational collaborations and sponsorships, on the contrary.
The rumors speak of new opportunities deriving from the expressions of interest advanced by leading companies that until Tuesday were in the position of not being able to contact LIV Golf due to the veto placed by the PGA Tour: Marriott, Anheuser-Busch, Fox and ESPN, for make names.
But the real bombshell is that, again according to The Fire Pit Collective, the top players on the PGA Tour will receive an offer from LIV Golf. As reported in Alan Shipnuck’s book ‘Live and Let Die’, a Saudi League official said: “Now we can finally get to Hideki (Matsuyama, NDR) and Jon Rahm” “I mean that all the big names on the PGA Tour will receive our offer. Except Rory…” Rory McIlroy is not welcome in those parts. But, after all, it’s mutual.
