Jordan Spieth believes PGA Tour-PIF talks are ‘moving positively from both sides’, despite Rory McIlroy expressing his confidence a deal can pass is at all all-time ‘low’.
Jordan Spieth has shut down any talk that PGA Tour-PIF talks are crumbling by declaring ‘things are actually moving positively from both sides’.
Spieth, 30, is one of the six player directors on the PGA Tour policy board alongside Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, Peter Malnati and Webb Simpson.
Rory McIlroy, who was rejected a return to the board earlier this month, last week declared his confidence a deal could be struck was now at an all-time ‘low’.
McIlroy, 35, made his comments at the US PGA approximately 24 hours after news filtered through Jimmy Dunne was quitting the PGA Tour’s policy board with immediate effect.
Dunne was a prime architect of the secretive 6 June 2023 framework agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
In his resignation letter, Dunne claimed his position had become ‘utterly superfluous’ after he was apparently frozen out of talks given some players were still angry with him.
But three-time major champion Spieth believes any talk of a deal being in a ‘bad place’ are untrue ahead of this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge on the PGA Tour.
Spieth adds ‘there’s open dialog’ between both parties and there will be ‘more and more information over the coming months’.
According to the New York Times this week, a deal is still ‘very much alive’.
Lauren Hirsch reports that despite the many setbacks that has included missed deadlines and high-profile resignations, the two parties have already ‘exchanged terms’ on a deal.
Spieth told reporters on Wednesday:
“I think the narrative that things are in a bad place and are moving slowly and, you know, some of the things that are asked to me or said are untrue. I think that I — I know that it’s false, actually. Things are actually moving positively from both sides. I think ultimately we’ll end up in a place where professional golf is maybe the best that it’s ever been. I think both sides believe that. I think although there’s always frustrations I think in deal making — and I’m not a part of the deal making. From what I do know, it’s cordial, there’s open dialog, and it’s moving along at the pace that it’s moving along. And anything else that’s said about it is just, I just know to be false. So I’m very optimistic I think is what I would say out of all of it. I think that’s starting to resonate amongst players as they’re able to get more and more information on the matter and it will continue to get more and more information over the coming months.”
Spieth is one the tournament favourites at this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge
Scottie Scheffler is a red-hot tournament favourite.
McIlroy, who filed for divorce last week, will next tee it up at the RBC
Canadian Open next week.
