LIV, PGA Tour expected to extend merger talks with Masters deadline in mind

Merger talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are expected to extend into the new year, with the two golf leagues pushing back the Dec. 31 deadline they originally set, according to a new report. 

The hope is now that the two sides can come to an agreement before the Masters in April, according to The Telegraph, which broke the news just three days shy of the deadline. 

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan were scheduled to meet before Christmas, but no details have come out about the sitdown. 

“There’s no chance a deal can be announced by the end of this week,” a source told The Telegraph. “But, maybe by the end of March.”

Skepticism started to bubble as the deadline neared, even as Tiger Woods — a member of the PGA Tour’s policy board — told reporters earlier this month the two sides still aimed to meet the Dec. 31 date. 

“I am confident a deal will get done in some way,” Tiger Woods said at the Hero World Challenge, per CBS Sports. “Whether that comes Dec. 31 or is pushed back, we’re all — all sides understand we’re working together. There are no lawsuits. Everyone’s understanding what that looks like, and we’re all progressing going forward. Everyone’s working right now with no animosity.

“We’re trying to work to try and get a deal done for the Tour and for all parties involved.”

The PGA and LIV, the latter of which is bankrolled by the Saudi government’s Public Investment Fund, shocked the sports world when they announced a framework agreement to join forces between the once bitter rival leagues back in June. 

The New Year’s Eve deadline was made when they made the announcement, but even then, it appeared to be an uphill battle.

Things became even more complicated after U.S. regulators got involved, and hearings were held on Capitol Hill over the merger. 

Talks were on hold for the most part up until the Ryder Cup in October, and there had been some frustration from the Saudis over several particular issues, The Telegraph reported. 

They were reportedly upset with the progress that had been made and over the fact that pros on the PGA Tour’s policy board — which included Woods and Rory McIlroy before his resignation in November — had veto power that could nix any deal. 

While the talks between LIV and the PGA continued earlier this month, the latter announced they are in the midst of nearing a deal with Strategic Sports Group for a potential partnership. 

SSG, a consortium of U.S. professional team owners, would potentially invest $3 billion into the Tour, according to ESPN.

With the deadline now expected to be pushed into 2024, the scrutiny and focus on the merger likely will just intensify.