Is PGA-PIF Golf agreement as far along as commissioner says?

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Is the PGA-PIF Golf agreement as far along as commissioner says it is?

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 8/23/23

When Jay Monahan held his state of the PGA Tour news conference on Tuesday, he painted a positive — albeit incredibly vague — picture of the Tour's efforts to merge with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. He said that there was "progress" and that he is confident the powers that be "will reach a positive outcome for the PGA Tour." (Whatever that's supposed to mean.)

But perhaps it's not surprising that there is a contradiction to the rosy future Monahan is painting. Front Office Sports reported just a day after the news conference that a source with knowledge of the negotiations says: "There's a lot of work to do."

FOS adds that the process has been slow and that there are legitimate questions as to whether the Dec. 31 deadline to reach an agreement will be met.

On Tuesday, commissioner Jay Monahan painted a VERY rosy picture for the PGA TOUR amidst the criticism he’s faced surrounding the secrecy of the framework agreement. But when asked about the future of LIV GOLF, he said he didn’t have an answer right now… what do you think? pic.twitter.com/3CHHroiE7F
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) August 22, 2023

Professional golf has been in a perpetual state of flux since it was announced on June 6 that Monahan had secretly been working on an agreement with the PIF to merge the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf. One main reason Monahan is looking to merge is to end ongoing litigation between the rival leagues, but his lack of transparency in the matter drew anger from players and fans alike.

It isn't known exactly why the agreement process is so sluggish, although it could be because the players have more say in the matter now. Tiger Woods was added to the PGA Tour Policy Board earlier this month, and his presence gives players a majority vote on the board when it comes to final decisions on the framework agreement Monahan is trying to craft.

With just a couple of months left to get the framework agreement in place, it's worth it to keep a close eye on how close to a final product Monahan and the PGA Tour actually are. Or if there is still, as FOS reported, more work to be done than Monahan is letting on.

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