A player director of the PGA Tour has admitted it would be “very dangerous” for the organisation not to complete a deal with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. Webb Simpson, speaking after the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, believes the “good of the game” would be harmed if the PGA Tour does not form an alliance with LIV Golf.
Last June’s framework agreement between golf’s existing tours and the PIF has resulted so far in the creation of a new commercial entity, PGA Tour Enterprises, which a US sports ownership conglomerate has invested $1.5bn in. The PIF remains on the outside pending regulatory approval. LIV, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, has continued to coax players from the PGA Tour.
Recent noises, including from Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, have suggested the PGA Tour can now operate without PIF’s assistance. Simpson offered a cautionary note.
“Very dangerous,” Simpson said of that possibility. “I think we’re in a position where we want to do the right deal. We don’t want to just do a deal because we’re afraid that the LIV tour might recruit more players. That’s certainly a fear.
“But I think it’s obvious [we need to do a deal]. The writing is on the wall. We’re not in a position where we need to do a deal for money. We need to do a deal for the good of the game. And for the health of the PGA Tour long-term. That’s my hope.
“One thing I’m certain of is fans, players, media, sponsors alike all feel strongly that the game is divided. The game has been divided for a year and a half now. The game misses the personalities of LIV. I think the game misses the personalities of LIV and the PGA Tour playing together.”
This week’s PGA Tour event at Bay Hill plus next week’s flagship Players Championship will take place minus the Masters and US PGA Champions – Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka – who both now play under the LIV banner.
“I don’t know what they [LIV and PIF] want,” Simpson added. “I don’t know what the players playing for LIV want. I think they’re very happy where they are. I think they’re very happy with the decisions they’ve made. But I’ve heard from enough people who have grown a little distasteful with the current state of golf. When you come to big tournaments like the Arnold Palmer Invitational, you want to know the guy who won beat most or all of the best players.”
Simpson admitted no PGA Tour player director has communicated directly with the PIF. “We probably should have talked to them already,” he said.
Shane Lowry shot to the top of the leaderboard on day one in Orlando. The Irishman, who conceded his Bay Hill record is “horrific” posted a six-under-par 66. “Maybe that’s the kind of score I need to shoot to just give myself the confidence to go out and play my game around here,” said Lowry.
