PGA Tour, Saudi-Backed LIV Golf to Merge, End Legal War 

After more than a year of legal battles, many of which were based on antitrust allegations, the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf have agreed to merge into a single, for-profit global golfing powerhouse. The two sides will also be merging with the European DP World Tour. 

The merger represents a significant reorganization of the sport, which has been torn apart ever since LIV Golf, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), appeared on the scene and offered enormous contracts to high-profile golfers such as Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, and Dustin Johnson.  

“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said. 

A new board of directors will be responsible for overseeing all commercial activities, businesses, and investments of the new organization, while the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour will continue to oversee their respective circuits. The PGA Tour will appoint most of that board and will have most of the voting interest.   

PIF will be the group’s exclusive outside investor, although a specific amount was not disclosed. More details are expected to follow, including a name for the new entity. 

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, will join the board of the PGA Tour, which continues to operate its tournaments. Al-Rumayyan will be chairman of the new commercial group, with Monahan as CEO and the PGA Tour having a majority stake in the new venture. 

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