PGA Tour policy board member Webb Simpson has provided extraordinary insight into the negotiations with LIV Golf’s primary backers.
Webb Simpson has given insightful information about the PGA Tour’s talks with the main backers of LIV Golf.
The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and The Tour are still in negotiations to ratify the framework agreement that was established on June 6, 2023.
It’s been said for a long time that a deal this complicated will never close. Additionally, it will be examined by the US government.
According to others, the ‘deal to make a deal’ was only revealed as a way to end the expensive legal battle that would have cost the PGA Tour over $20 million in legal fees by the year 2022.
In an unprecedented interview with Golfweek, Simpson acknowledged that the deal is complicated, but he is certain that they are “close” to a lightning strike.
It is not just Simpson who thinks golf’s ‘civil war’ will be over soon.
Departing DP World Tour boss Keith Pelley revealed in his resignation letter to European golfers he has been asked to stay on for three months to push the deal over the line.
Simpson told the publication, “A deal of this magnitude and what we’re talking about is so complex.”
“We must work through the diverse desires and people that they represent. It just takes time, especially with as many players as we have—SSG, PIF, and so on.
“Hopefully, we’ll finish something soon.”
Simpson was referring to the Fenway organization, which owns the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool Football Club, and Strategic Sports Group, a group of billionaires led by Tom Werner.
In total, the PGA Tour’s legal fees increased 10-fold from $2m in 2021 to $20.7m last year .
Simpson said he believes the deal is a matter of ‘weeks away’.
One of the most interesting parts of the interview was Simpson’s staunch defence of Patrick Cantlay.
Cantlay has been battered in some reports in recent weeks and months.
Claims have been made he has maneuvered himself into a position of power on the policy board.
It was an allegation fellow board member Jordan Spieth found hilarious.
Cantlay, for his part, has acknowledged he has held multiple about joining LIV Golf but has denied a power grab.
He also argued it was impossible for one player to gain absolute control given the board’s structure.
As for Simpson, he conceded there have been times where he has disagreed with Cantlay, but he “cares a lot an is trying to do what a majority of players are asking him to do”.
Asked if Cantlay was looking out for the entire membership, Simpson said:
“I think he is. I think it’s easy for the players who aren’t top players to see the top players on the board as they’ve done the elevated events, they did the PIP, they are just making it about them. I can understand how they can see that. I can promise you that is not the intention; the intention is we’ve got to keep guys attracted to the PGA Tour. If we don’t incentivize the stars, they’ll go too. The currency of sway is money – it probably always has been. We have to speak to that a little bit. I think it’s fair to say all the guys on the board are working their tail off. Patrick has put in so many hours, and I really think he cares about making the Tour the best place in the world to play.”
Simpson also expressed gratitude to Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour’s boss.
Following the announcement on June 6, Monahan was compelled to take time off due to anxiety stemming from the drastic, 180-degree change in Tour management policy.
There are rumors that he will soon leave his position as commissioner and is now only the commissioner in name.
According to Simpson, Monahan has now “totally owned” the disastrous announcement from June 6.
He declared, “He’s been as transparent as he possibly can be and he genuinely wants what’s best for the players.”