While the agreement has been announced, terms are still being finalized and the news has left several questions regarding both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Here is a look at some of those questions.Will it spark an antitrust investigation?
Based on the reports, an antitrust investigation appears inevitable even as the Justice Department's investigation looks likely to dissipate with the PGA Tour agreeing to create a process to allow players to reapply for membership.The families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have been vocal detractors of LIV Golf.
"PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan co-opted the 9/11 community last year in the PGA's unequivocal agreement that the Saudi LIV project was nothing more than sportswashing of Saudi Arabia's reputation.
His golf courses in New Jersey and Florida are slated to host LIV Golf events in August and October, respectively.When several PGA Tour players decided to join LIV Golf in 2022, the tour retaliated by suspending the defecting golfers from the PGA and PGA events. The PGA Tour and Netflix announced in March that Full Swing had been renewed for a second season, which would offer"more unprecedented access throughout the 2023 PGA Tour season." Nothing has been announced regarding any changes to the show, as the 2023 PGA Tour is expected to continue despite the merger.
Other sports Saudi Arabia has thrown money at include soccer and Formula One racing. The Public Investment Fund owns 80% of the Premier League soccer club Newcastle, and Saudi Arabia has hosted one race per year on the Formula One calendar since 2021 with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah.