Liverpool owners FSG could play key role in saving PGA Tour/LIV Golf merger
LIV Golf and the PGA Tour may have Fenway Sports Group, owners of Liverpool Football Club, to thank if a deal manages to get over the line.
The PGA Tour and the Saudi-funded breakaway league have been in negotiations over a proposed merger ever since the initial framework was announced on June 6. Since then, there has been continued speculation about golf's future and whether or not an agreement could be reached.
A fresh report from ESPN has claimed that the PGA Tour is close to securing investment into its new venture, PGA Tour Enterprises. It's been stated that several billionaire, including owners of major US sports franchises feature in a consortium named the Strategic Sports Group that will invest as much as £2.3 million ($3 billion) into the plan.
READ MORE: PGA Tour set for mammoth £2.3bn deal with investors including Liverpool owners
Part of that consortium is FSG, the owners of Liverpool who are led by John Henry and have been in charge of the Premier League club since completing a £300 million takeover back in October 2010. FSG chairman Tom Werner confirmed last month that he and the company had held initial talks with the PGA Tour over a potential investment, but would not provide any details on the extent of the negotiations.
Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected
The latest report from ESPN has gone on to claim that the deal involving American sports team owners such as FSG could help complete the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. It's was claimed that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) were "initially hesitant" to do business with the PGA Tour and US investors.
However, the article claims that the prospect of becoming business partners with the likes of FSG is "appealing" to PIF. Other American sports team chiefs reported to be part of the consortium include Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Boston Celtics' Wyc Grousbeck, as well as the owners of Major League Baseball franchises the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets.
A deadline for an agreement to be reached between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf was initially set for December 31. However, reports in recent weeks have suggested that could be extended if necessary.
It remains to be seen if and when an agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will be agreed. The two respective circuits have been in the spotlight ever since some players left the PGA Tour in 2022 to make the switch to the Saudi-funded league.
LIV Golf acquired a new player last week when world number three Jon Rahm left the PGA Tour to join the league. The reigning Masters champion had been the subject of speculation for several weeks when it came to the possibility of him joining LIV.
Rahm will now become the latest star to play for LIV Golf, with the new season getting underway in February. However, due to the Official World Golf Rankings ruling in October that events in the league would not contribute towards ranking points, Rahm is likely to lose his spot as the world number three when the season begins.
His Masters win earlier this year means he is guaranteed entry into all the majors for a five-year period - and the Masters for life.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
