Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan has provided an update to LIV Golf players, after signing a shock agreement with the PGA Tour.
Having spent the past year at war, the PGA Tour and LIV appeared to have finally settled their differences, with the two circuits set to work under one entity named 'NewCo', along with the DP World Tour. Amid the proposed merger it remains to be seen what the future holds for professional golf.
In particular, the future of LIV Golf remains more unclear than most, with NewCo bosses - headed by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Al-Rumayyan - set to complete an 'evaluation' of what the breakaway circuit can offer to the new entity.
Despite concerns over LIV's future, the Saudi boss appears to have reassured stars who left for the breakaway tour that the league will be looked after in the new deal. According to Sports Illustrated, Al-Rumayyan told one player: "It’s [LIV Golf] my f*****g baby", in a statement which would appear to indicate he is determined to protect its future.
This week is another big one for the league, with the famed Valderrama club hosting LIV Andalucia for event eight of the 2023 season. The Spanish-based tournament is the first on the LIV schedule since PGA Tour-PIF deal was confirmed earlier this month.
Unsurprisingly, the merger with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour has dominated discussion heading into Friday's opening round, which a whole host of LIV stars commenting on the deal. One man who many were keen to hear from is Phil Mickelson, who refused to discuss the agreement at the recent US Open.
Two weeks on though, the six-time major champion opened up on what the agreement means for LIV Golf. "I would say I felt appreciation that we got to this point where we're working together because it makes me confident with where the game of golf is headed in the future," he said.
"We felt like it was going to be about two years roughly before we got to that point. It took a year and a half or six months quicker than I thought it would be. Going forward, we're all very optimistic about where the game of golf, professional golf specifically, is headed.
Mickelson himself has found himself at war with the PGA Tour over the past 12 months, but he even admitted he has high hopes for his old rivals. "Also, a lot of the changes that have been made because of LIV were all very [appreciated]," he added. "Both on the LIV Tour as well as the PGA Tour, and we're happy for the guys out there that they're having some positive changes there, as well."
