Tiger Woods and PGA Tour officials met with representatives from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in New York on Tuesday, and 9/11 Justice group is ‘disgusted’ about it.
Tiger Woods and PGA Tour officials met with representatives of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in New York today, according to ESPN, and the latest update has been met with heavy criticism by the 9/11 Justice group.
Woods, 48, and PGA Tour officials are attempting to thrash out a deal that would pump $1 billion from the PIF into PGA Tour Enterprises, a new for-profit entity that was launched by the circuit last year alongside Strategic Sports Group (SSG).
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour signed a framework agreement with LIV Golf’s bankrollers PIF last June, but all parties failed to reach an agreement by a previous deadline for the end of 2023.
That deadline was then extended until further notice and the PGA Tour and PIF have been trying to hammer out their deal ever since.
While all that was going in the background, the PGA Tour struck a deal with SSG, who are led by Liverpool FC’s owners Fenway Sports Group.
SSG made an initial investment of $1.5 billion in the PGA Tour, and that figure could soon increase to $3 billion should a merger with PIF eventually happen as planned.
Woods is currently negotiating with Saudi bosses alongside former Masters champion Adam Scott, who like Woods sits on the board of player directors at the PGA Tour.
Scott and Woods are also joined by PGA Tour Enterprises chairman Joe Gorder and Fenway Sports Group owner John W. Henry.
According to ESPN, the PGA Tour and Woods have jetted over to New York for showdown talks with PIF representatives this week.
An X flight tracking account – @radaratlas2 – noted that private jets owned by Woods, the Saudi oil and natural gas company Aramco and the PGA Tour arrived in New York on Monday.
The first meeting took place on Tuesday, per ESPN, and further meetings are scheduled for the rest of this week.
The update comes two weeks after the end of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup race, and two days before the start of the FedEx Cup Fall.
There is anticipation in the golf industry that a deal between the PGA Tour and PIF is needed in order to sort out the huge divide in the professional game right now as a result of the breakaway LIV Golf League – bankrolled by PIF.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman dropped 10 bold claims about his league last month while also hitting out at the sport in the process.
Norman believes LIV Golf is “here to stay”.
LIV Golf has acquired a number of the world’s best golfers from the PGA Tour including Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson.
There are rumours LIV Golf is going to try splash out on at least one more big name from the PGA Tour ahead of next season.
The first four events of the 2025 LIV Golf League season were officially announced last week.
But back to the top of the story, and not everyone is impressed to hear that Woods and the PGA Tour have decided to meet up with PIF representatives in New York this week.
Far from it.
Tiger Woods, PGA Tour, PIF update draws heavy criticism
9/11 Justice – the group of 9/11 survivors, first responders and family members of those killed in the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 – has strongly hit out at the PGA Tour and Woods following today’s latest update.
The group, which accuses the Saudi Arabian government of supporting the terrorists, states it is ‘disgusted’ to learn Woods and the PGA Tour have decided to meet up with PIF representatives in New York this week.
Tomorrow – 11 September – marks the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy in New York.
“Tomorrow, we commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, yet here we are today, in New York City, down the street from Ground Zero, and the PGA Tour and Tiger Woods are negotiating with them,” 9/11 Justice president Brett Eagleson said in a statement.
“As has been confirmed in the last few weeks by CBS reporting, the Saudi Arabian government played a role in the horrific attacks of 9/11. It is disgusting, unacceptable, and incredibly painful that the Tour and Woods would do this — especially now.”
More than 3,000 family members of 9/11 victims are also demanding both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris oppose any Middle East peace deal with Saudi Arabia unless the kingdom acknowledges and is held accountable for its involvement in the attacks.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said talks with PIF had “been enhanced” when last revealing details to the media in August.
It remains to be seen whether talks get advanced any further with Woods’ help in New York this week.
Woods recently turned down the chance to become 2025 United States Ryder Cup captain because of “too many other commitments”.
Keegan Bradley got the captaincy instead.
On top of helping the PGA Tour on its merger with PIF, the 15-time major champion is also gearing up to host his new TGL alongside Rory McIlroy in early 2025.
Woods claimed after missing the cut at The Open in July that he would unlikely compete again until the PNC Championship with his son Charlie Woods just before Christmas.
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