Max Homa explains what he meant by: "They better do a damn good job"

Max Homa was one of the first high-profile professional golfers to react to Strategic Sports Group's $3bn deal with the PGA Tour.  

The North American circuit announced the private equity agreement with SSG - a group of investors led by Fenway Sports Group - on 31 January. 

As a result golfers like Homa, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are set to initially benefit to the tune of $1.5bn in equity. 

RELATED: PGA Tour outlines new cash injection for past and present players

High-ranking executives insist the deal, which coincides with the launch of PGA Tour Enterprises, will not prevent an agreement with LIV's financiers. 

Billions more will be poured into the company to help sustain the astronomical prize purses of the 'signature' events. 

But the assertion, to many, is that this is just a case of the rich getting richer. LIV players got their payday, now the PGA Tour stars are getting theirs. 

The view has been adopted that ultimately the fan will suffer from the continued divide in men's pro golf.  

Especially considering the likes of Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler have adopted the view LIV players shouldn't be allowed to walk back through the door - if they want to - without penalty. 

"I know everyone is sick of hearing about how much more money golfers are getting," Homa wrote on X after the deal was announced. 

"My optimism lies in the main point of this which is we now have very savvy and experienced stakeholders who have a lot of incentive to improve the product creatively and make it better for the fans"

Pressed as to how are the fans benefitting from the SSG deal, Homa replied: "Because this investment group isn't just donating money. They want to make money. So they need people to watch golf to make money.

"So they'd better do a damn good job to make this more watchable and entertaining for the fans."

Homa was asked about these comments ahead of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. 

He was asked by a reporter if he believes the Tour will look similar going forward. 

Homa said: "If you think I'm in the meetings with the SSG, then you've pegged me wrong. I don't think so. I would hope so.

"My general point is I feel like that the communication or the things being taken from news in golf now always highlights the money that we're making, and I can guarantee that SSG didn't come in to give us a bunch of money just for fun.

"I would imagine they want to make their money back and then some, and if you just keep trickling down that rabbit hole, how would that happen, I would say one avenue would be to entertain the fans so that we have more fans while keeping the ones that we've got at the moment and making money that way. That's just how I see it.

Because this investment group isn’t just donating money. They want to make money. So they need people to watch golf to make money. So they’d better do a damn good job to make this more watchable and entertaining for the fans https://t.co/SP7AyftnKd

— max homa (@Maxhoma) January 31, 2024

He continued: "I don't have a beat on it, but I know that the management of the PGA Tour wants the PGA Tour to succeed, and success is having a larger fan base.

"I don't know enough about the business, but I don't see how you could do all that by not improving the product and tailoring it to people watching. That's just how I see most sports going. 

"I would assume that that would be the case, but it would be hard for me to know 100 percent for sure, but that feels like a fair assumption."

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