PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia Deal Still Pending: LIV Golf Saga Continues

The world of professional golf remains in a state of uncertainty as a deal between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia is still yet to be signed. The ongoing saga has divided the sport since the emergence of LIV Golf in 2022, with players facing consequences for signing with the Saudi-backed league.

Newly-appointed DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings has acknowledged that significant changes in the sport will not be implemented until after 2025. Despite a framework agreement being announced last summer between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and the PIF, a finalized deal has yet to be reached.

Kinnings emphasized the need for flexibility and compromise in order to move forward with a solution that will reunite the world of professional golf. The PGA Tour and DP World Tour have taken a firm stance against players who have chosen to compete in LIV Golf events, leading to consequences for well-known players like Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Jon Rahm.

The European circuit has also implemented measures to penalize its members who participate in LIV Golf events, resulting in the resignation of players like Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, and Lee Westwood. This has raised concerns about Ryder Cup eligibility for players like Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, who played key roles in Team Europe’s victory in Rome.

Kinnings has clarified that, under the current system, European players who are members of the DP World Tour and adhere to the rules in place remain eligible for Ryder Cup selection in 2023. As the golfing world awaits a resolution to the ongoing dispute, the future of professional golf hangs in the balance.