PGA Tour and PIF Extend Agreement Deadline to a Very Interesting Date

The PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) are set to extend their deadline for a potential deal that would see the latter funnel billions into the Tour. 

The two entities are set to announce that their new deadline will be by The Masters in April, just a month after reigning champion Jon Rahm defected from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf.

Telegraph Sport reported that the framework agreement, which was initially unveiled in June, would have its deadline extended until the second weekend of April, which is the same weekend as The Masters, the first Major Championship of the year.

BREAKING: the PGA Tour and the PIF have extended their December 31, 2023 “deadline” for a Definitive Agreement until the 2024 Masters (approx. April 11).

The deadline was always a soft target, since it allowed the parties to extend it by mutual agreement.

Coming to final terms… pic.twitter.com/njhKCkGwRH

— John Nucci (@JNucci23) December 28, 2023

Initially, the two sides were set to come to terms by December 31. With that date being just 72 hours away, it appears they will look to add four months to its negotiation process, hoping to strike a deal that would end the divisive environment golf has endured for the past two seasons.

Although PGA Policy Board members, including Tiger Woods, said that the deal was still set to be agreed upon by that date, it appears terms are not quite agreed upon.

While the PGA Tour just landed a massive investment from Strategic Sports Group, which would help the Tour compete and perhaps reserve some of the talent it has from joining LIV, sources told the publication that it was impossible a deal would be announced by the end of this week:

“There’s no chance a deal can be announced by the end of this week. But, maybe by the end of March.”

The agreement would bring an end to hostility that has been felt between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf for the past two seasons. It would effectively bring golf back to a situation of unity, benefitting players and fans and bringing the world’s best talents back together.

Cover image via Clublender