New order or chaos: the PGA and the Saudi LIV negotiate 'in extremis' an agreement to change golf

With the waters calm after the signing of Jon Rahm for the LIV circuit, the future of golf awaits a date: December 31, 2023. There are barely hours left for the two blocks, the PGA Tour and the LIV, to certify the agreement or not. It will be the first stone of the new order or the beginning of chaos. Americans and Saudis are condemned to understand each other, but the PGA Tour does not quite see any of the demands that come from Arabia, even though they are sprinkled with millions and with Rahm.

The maximum pressure is on the side of the Americans. These are tense days in Jacksonville, Florida, where the PGA Tour offices seem closed for vacation, but commissioner Jay Monahan spends hours locked in his office. Rahm's departure, they say, was an unexpected crochet on the chin. But after the initial shock the American circuit fights to regain its guard. The agreement with the American investment fund Strategic Sports Group (SSG) would be closed pending signature and the circuit hopes to rearm itself and not depend on the millions from the Saudis.

One of the many problems for the American circuit is that it is no longer a pineapple. The players distrust the management of their commissioner. A group of 21 modest members of the PGA Tour have hired a lawyer to enter into the details of the negotiation in which they feel alienated. Just a few days ago, the Norwegian Viktor Hovland, fourth in the world, one of those tempted by the LIV, made his position very clear: “They see the circuit players as labor and not as members.”. “We are the PGA Tour and it is clear that without the players there would be no circuit.”

Nothing will be the same

Yankee Commissioner Monahan needs aces up his sleeve with a delicate economic situation. In recent months, the PGA Tour used its own reserve funds to inject million-dollar sums of money into its tournaments and thus avoid a rout of the great players to LIV Golf.. There were eight tournaments that went from 15 to 25 million dollars in prizes, in addition to an extra 145 million to increase games in the FedEx Cup, the Top10 Comcast or the Player Impact Program that decides how much to distribute among the best players of the year in the PGA.

Whatever happens, nothing will be the same for the circuit again.. Monahan himself has his days numbered and, to the distrust of the players, we must add that of such loyal sponsors as Honda or Wells Fargo, who have announced their separation.. In recent times there has been little positive news for the PGA, if anything the commitment of Tiger Woods, who in the offices took a step forward as one of the directors of players on the circuit and in the field offers signs of improvement to maintain the tournament interest.

The lack of Saudi signings

The situation is complicated in the United States, but the other side cannot get carried away by euphoria either.. The signing of Rahm was a coup, but at the moment it has not been accompanied by new signings. In recent months everything has been negative. The Spanish Adri Arnaus could be the fifth Spaniard to be part of LIV Golf and join Rahm's new team, although there is nothing official. From the LIV the strategy is clear: silence and dollars. After the stellar appearance in New York on the day of his signing, Rahm has not spoken again, nor have his tour mates, and the offers to the stars of world golf continue.

First there was the attempt to hire Tony Finau for the LIV, then the siren call to Hovland and, at this moment, conversations persist with several players, including the Australian Adam Scott, one of the directors of the players' committee at the PGA Tour. His departure would be a high betrayal.

Golf decides its future in these hours before 2024, although the negotiation period could be extended a few more weeks. Meanwhile, we will only have to wait for the month of February to see Jon Rahm compete again, even if it is in a multi-million dollar LIV Golf 'pachanga' in Mayakoba (Mexico), precisely the same place where the PGA Tour gave him his first opportunity.