Former Ryder Cup skipper makes fresh PGA Tour-PIF claim

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley says he's heard a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf's backers will be announced before the 2025 Masters. 

The North American circuit and LIV's financiers - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund - announced a framework agreement almost two years ago but so far no deal has come to pass. 

Tiger Woods hinted over the weekend during the Genesis Invitational that things are now finally heading in the right direction after American president Donald Trump was asked to intervene. 

"It's taken a long time to get to where we are," McGinley told BBC Sport Northern Ireland. "But it sounds like we're closer now than we ever have been

"It's not going to start with everybody back as friends, it'll be a slow process in that regard.

"But the main thing is to find some kind of umbrella that both tours can work under as well as the DP World Tour and then try to get some kind of schedule out of that."

He added: "There's going to be something announced and from what I hear, it's going to be announced relatively soon, maybe even before the Masters."

Last week it was revealed the Saudi PIF is nearing a $5bn investment in LIV Golf. 

Operating losses in 2023 alone were $394m, according to Money in Sport. 

Further bills are on the horizon as Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau's contracts expire at the end of the year. 

McGinley says what has been happening is not sustainable. 

"Nobody's winning at the moment, except for the players with the huge prize money they're playing for," he said. 

"The sponsors are not winning, and the public is not winning because we're not getting to see these players play together more regularly and TV is not winning."

What did Tiger Woods say?

Woods made his first public appearance since announcing the death of his mother Kultida during during the final round of the Genesis Invitational. 

The 15-time major champion hopped in the CBS commentary booth with Jim Nantz and Trevor Immelman where he spoke about his mother, his hopes for playing more professional golf in 2025 and the future of the Tour. 

"We're in a very positive place right now," Woods said. 

"We had a meeting with the president. Unfortunately, I had some other circumstances that came up, but Jay [Monahan] and Adam [Scott], they did great during the meeting, and we have another subsequent meeting coming up.

"I think that things are going to heal quickly. We're going to get this game going in the right direction. 

"It's been heading in the wrong direction for a number of years and the fans want all of us to play together, all the top players playing together and we're going to make that happen."

The 49-year-old suggested that something may be imminent by declaring reunification of the game is 'what we are focused on'. 

He added: "Candidly, that's what fans want. So when you talk about reunification, that's all the best players in the world competing with each other and against each other."

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