Golf fans react to latest PGA Tour/LIV Golf update: "I cannot wait for this"
Key players from the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and Saudi Arabia's PIF have been requested to give testimony to US lawmakers about their shock agreement.
A few weeks ago the golf world was turned upside down when the PGA Tour announced they had formed an agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), and now new information about an upcoming hearing involving the two parties has emerged.
On 6 June, the PGA Tour released a statement that said they would be forming a new, for-profit entity with the DP World Tour and the PIF.
This new entity would be combination of the commercial rights and businesses of the PGA Tour and DP World Tour with the golf-related commercial rights and businesses of the PIF, which includes the PGA Tour's rival, LIV Golf.
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Following the groundbreaking news, the US Congress began looking into the deal.
Earlier this week, Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard reported that Senator Richard Blumenthal's staff were seeking meetings with players and had sent a letter to Jay Monahan and LIV CEO Greg Norman asking for documents.
Monahan has been the PGA Tour commissioner amid the creation and rise of LIV Golf, but it came out last week that he would be taking some time to recover from a medical situation.
On Monday, John Nucci, an attorney and chief golf law correspondent at the Conduct Detrimental podcast, reported that a congressional hearing on the new agreement could come within weeks, per an interview Blumenthal did with CBS News.
NEW: Sen. Richard Blumenthal tells CBS News “Face the Nation” that a congressional hearing on the PGA Tour-PIF partnership could come within weeks.
He added that “subpoenas, hearings, recommendations for action, and legislation are all on the table.” pic.twitter.com/iR74aPbVrz— John Nucci (@JNucci23) June 19, 2023
Now, new information regarding the hearing has come out on Wednesday.
Along with a letter posted to Twitter, Nucci reported that the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has asked that Monahan, Norman, and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan testify at a hearing.
JUST IN: Jay Monahan, Yasir al-Rumayyan, and Greg Norman have been asked to testify at a July 11 hearing of the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
Covered topics in the hearing include:
• Any terms of the planned agreement
• The proposed structure of the new… pic.twitter.com/U1w3L5XMjW— John Nucci (@JNucci23) June 21, 2023
"The Subcommittee respectfully requests that you appear in-person to testify at this hearing,” said the letter posted by Nucci, which was addressed to Monahan.
The letter went on:
The hearing is set to be held 11 July, but a written statement must be filed by 7 July, per the letter. It was signed by Blumenthal and Senator Ron Johnson.
Following Wednesday's news, golf fans reacted to the report.
Here are some of the responses to Nucci's tweet:
