Report: LIV Golf official skipping Ryder Cup to avoid drama
High-ranking LIV Golf official Yasir Al-Rumayyan has reportedly decided against making an appearance at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.
LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan has reportedly decided against making an appearance at the Ryder Cup.
Per Telegraph Sport, it is said the high-ranking Saudi businessman and mastermind behind LIV feels as though his presence would ruffle some feathers despite the fact tensions have eased in the world of men's professional golf.
Though PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and his European counterpart, Keith Pelley, will be in Rome despite their apparent unpopularity amongst some of the ranks of Team Europe and Team USA.
Monahan's resignation was called for by some golfers after the 53-year-old appeared alongside Al-Rumayyan in a television appearance on 6 June to explain the details of the stunning 'framework agreement' between the tour and their once bitter LIV Golf rival.
Rory McIlroy led the charge against the 'threat' of LIV but has ultimately conceded the deal, should it go through, ultimately neutralises the breakaway tour of hijacking the sport completely.
Not so soon after the deal was announced, it was confirmed McIlroy had privately met with Al-Rumayyan in Dubai.
Xander Schauffele has stated Monahan has a long way to go to regain the trust of PGA Tour players. Team USA stars Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have also expressed dismay at the lack of transparency.
Pelley has been noticeably quiet since the agreement was made, but he did surface at the conclusion of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth to congratulate Ryan Fox on his win.
The 6 June announcement marked a stunning about-face tour management policy by officials at Ponte Vedra.
The vague agreement - signed by PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF representatives on 30 May - brought an immediate ceasefire to golf's 'civil war'.
It was hatched in a series of secret meetings across the globe.
The only people in the room in these meetings in venues such as London and Venice were Monahan, his right-hand men Jimmy Dunne and Ron Price along with along with Al-Rumayyan and PIF representatives.
Dunne got the wheels in motion, sending Al-Rumayyan an unsolicited WhatsApp message at the height of the PGA Tour-LIV feud.
There is a deadline of 31 December for the agreement to be signed and sealed, although that can be extended.
Monahan has stressed that every effort is being made to get the agreement over the line.
Al-Rumayyan's presence was expected in Rome given that he brushed shoulders with R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers and Amanda Staveley during the 151st Open Championship.
Slumbers later said golf could not ignore what has happened in other sports such as F1, tennis and boxing.
He entertained the thought of potential investment from Saudi Arabia in the future by saying: "The world of sport has changed dramatically in the last 12 months, and it is not feasible for the R&A or golf to just ignore what is a societal change on a global basis. We will be considering within all the parameters that we look at all the options that we have."
The Ryder Cup captains, Luke Donald and Zach Johnson, have expressed their desire for the contest to rise above the drama.
Donald, for his part, said he has no doubt that the 'pure' nature of the contest will lift it above the LIV rift.
Read more:
- Henrik Stenson opens up on Ryder Cup sacking days before showdown in Rome
- Is Luke Donald bitter over initial Ryder Cup skipper rejection? Let him tell you
- Former Ryder Cup skipper makes bold Rory McIlroy claim: "There'll be an urgency"
- Sergio Garcia confirms last-ditch Ryder Cup plea: "The answer was no chance"
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