Ian Poulter reveals ‘passionate’ LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan has reassured him over the Saudi backed series long-term future… as a merger with the PGA Tour comes under strain

• Plans were revealed for a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf in June
• The proposed merger had led to doubts over LIV Golf’s long-term future 
• Ian Poulter insists he has received assurances the breakaway series will continue

Ian Poulter insists LIV Golf has a long-term future regardless of the proposed merger between the breakaway series and the PGA Tour.

A bitter civil war broke out within golf last year after the Saudi-backed series was launched and prized away many major big-name stars from the PGA Tour.

However, in June of this year, there was the shock announcement of plans for the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to merge, with those discussions still currently ongoing.

Within the ‘framework agreement’ between the parties at the time, there was a clause that while a deal was being discussed, LIV would not attempt to bring in any more stars from their rival tour.

The merger would also see LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan installed as CEO of a new for-profit company called ‘PGA Tour Enterprises’ in which the Saudi Public Investment Fund would be a minority investor.

Ian Poulter has insisted LIV Golf has a long-term future regardless of the proposed PGA merger

Poulter revealed he had been reassured over LIV’s future by chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan

Poulter has dismissed suggestions the potential merger could see LIV Golf scrapped, with Saudi Arabia having secured influence in the new company.

The 47-year-old, who had been one of the high-profile defectors from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf, told The Telegraph that Al-Rumayyan had reassured him over their series long-term future. 

‘I talked to his Excellency last week,’ Poulter said at LIV Golf’s Team Championship in Miami. ‘He told me, never mind 2024, 2025 – LIV will go and on.

‘He is passionate as he was at the very beginning in all this. 

‘He loves the concept, loves how it’s progressing and the impact it’s made and is making. 

‘You see it throughout the sports world, not only in golf.’

The Telegraph had reported that the PGA and LIV merger has been at risk of collapse, with negotiations needing to conclude ahead of a December 31 deadline.

The situation could come to a head when LIV’s qualifying event for 2024 takes place in December, which is the same time as the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

LIV Golf’s Team Championship has been taking place in Miami in the second year of the series

Any member on the PGA Tour that wants to defect would therefore be at risk of punishment from the governing body if they took part in the qualifying event, which is especially pertinent given the various legal battles over the past 18 months.

For example, during LIV’s inaugural event in June 2022, all those players who appeared without permission were handed £100,000 fines and one-tournament bans.

Reports have claimed that US billionaire investors are preparing to back the PGA Tour, which could lead to a breakdown in the relationship between the parties.

Source: Read Full Article