21 February 2024 , 18:27
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Chairman of LIV Golf and Newcastle United and Governor of Saudi Public Investment Fund Yasir Al-Rumayyan is set to play in the upcoming Pro-Am at a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.
The PGA Tour Champions Trophy Hassan II Pro-Am is taking place at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat this week and will include the Saudi businessman. He is set to play in a group with Arjun Atwal and fellow amateurs Tarik Sijilmassi and Mustapha Terrab.
As well as working behind the scenes at both LIV and Newcastle, Al-Rumayyan is a keen golfer with a handicap of 12 - having previously played at big events including LIV Golf Pro-Ams. The tournament will also see former Masters champion Angel Cabrera making his tour comeback after being released from prison.
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This isn't the first time Al-Rumayyan's participation in a Pro-Am has caused some eyebrows to be raised, with the LIV boss playing under a fake name 'Andrew Waterman' at last year's Alfred Dunhill Links event after getting an invite from sponsor Johann Rupert.
Al-Rumayyan has been looking to strike a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, the latter being funded by the Saudi PIF, since the shock announcement last June that the rivals would merge.
In recent weeks, further questions have been raised over the Saudi Public Investment Fund's future in the new potential era of the sport, after a huge investment was placed into the PGA Tour by Strategic Sports Group (SSG) - fronted by Liverpool FC owner John W Henry.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan will play on the PGA Tour for the first timeIt has been suggested that the PGA Tour could now continue without the Saudi money after the support from SSG - with golfing superstars such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy consistently speaking out against LIV.
However, after the SSG deal, the PGA Tour confirmed that it had made "progress in its ongoing negotiations with PIF on a potential future investment and both parties are working towards an ultimate agreement."
Al-Rumayyan's inclusion in the PGA Tour tournament might suggest that relations between the parties have improved, with a deal projected to be struck this year. The two entities have signed an agreement in principle and their rights to a new, unnamed and unconfirmed company.