Davis Love III Says PGA Tour-LIV Agreement Will Likely Be Delayed

Back when the Dec. 31 deadline was set for the deal between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (the backer of LIV Golf), the date seemingly allowed for plenty of time for negotiations. But now the target for finalization is just two months away, and word is spreading that the agreement is far from completion. Davis Love III, the 1997 PGA champion and winner of 21 PGA Tour events, is the latest to add fuel to those suspicions. 

In a recent interview with Golfweek, Love said the allegiance between the Tour and the PIF isn’t anywhere close to being settled. The "framework agreement" and its Dec. 31 deadline were first announced on June 6, when the deal was made public.

“The only thing I do know is nothing is going to happen really fast,” Love said to Golfweek. 

When asked if the framework agreement would close by the end of the year as originally intended, Love said, “I don’t see any way.” 

Love has served on the PGA Tour policy board five times throughout his career and was appointed player director twice. Although he wasn’t involved in the Tour’s decision-making in an official capacity this season, he said he was recently pulled in for a new “ad hoc” committee. 

Love III has been tapped to help advise the PGA Tour as the Dec. 31 deadline for negotiations with the Saudi PIF looms. 

David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

In August, Tiger Woods joined the PGA Tour Policy Board as the sixth director in light of the looming deal. Woods's mission centered around making sure the Tour operated in the best interest of the players, fans and sponsors and Love’s reinstated role seems to be parallel. 

“We might have screwed up the last three years, now how do we set up the PGA Tour for the future?" Love said. “Is there a different model? We’re independent contractors. Maybe we’re not independent contractors? The lawsuits are dropped; what what do we want to do, what does [the PIF] want to do? Do they really want to keep blowing that much money on LIV? Probably not.” 

Recent reports indicate that other investors unrelated to the Saudi PIF are in talks with the PGA Tour. There is speculation that the presence of another investor would help quell the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation on the deal, in addition to reducing public scrutiny. 

According to Sportico, an investment deal with the major entertainment company Endeavor recently fell through. 

But Love seemed to suggest that the deal could be delayed because of the PIF’s lack of communication in negotiations. 

“We made an offer,” Love said. “And if you don’t ever communicate, we can’t make another offer. It’s bizarre what’s going on It’s a long way from anything. The sharks are circling. Now everyone wants to invest in the PGA Tour.”