The PGA Tour’s negotiations with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) are continuing, and Bryson DeChambeau believes a deal will be made sooner rather than later.
Bryson DeChambeau believes a finalised agreement between the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) is right around the corner.
Since a shock announcement last June, the PGA Tour have been in negotiations with PIF over a deal that will see their hostilities with LIV Golf come to an end. Doubt was cast over the agreement late last month, as those negotiating missed their December 31 target to sign off the deal.
Nonetheless, the Tour declared that talks would go on until 2024, and now one of LIV’s most well-known figures, DeChambeau, has asserted that a deal will be reached sooner rather than later.
“I believe the agreement will be reached sooner than anticipated,” DeChambeau stated, as reported by Sports Illustrated. “It may not occur in the upcoming weeks. A month or so, perhaps. But it will take place. There is currently no avoiding it. The welfare of the game for the audience is at stake here. the spectators’ enjoyment of the game.
“As time goes on, we’re starting to see these fans are hungry for us all to come back together. I can’t wait for that day to happen.” DeChambeau himself is clearly keen on unity, after the professional game had been left torn in two thanks to the hostilities between the PGA Tour and LIV.
The agreement is expected to allow DeChambeau and co the chance to regain their Tour status, having been banned by commissioner Jay Monahan following their decision to make the Saudi switch. Monahan himself has been at the centre of the negotiations alongside PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
The deal also involves the DP World Tour too, who find themselves in a period of transition, with CEO Keith Pelley set to leave his role for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in April. Pelley has however delayed his departure in a bid to help to the deal peace deal get over the line prior to this year’s Masters.
During the Dubai Desert Classic last week, he told reporters, “I think we will definitely have a direction of travel by [April], yes, I do.”Like I mentioned, I believe that since the Ryder Cup, the discussions have heated up. That was what we anticipated. All sides seem to be willing, in my opinion.
As you can see, there’s willingness with PIF and definitely with us when you bring in someone like FSG, which is now SSG, with strong players like Steve Cohen. I think it will make for an exciting game if we can work together.