PGA Commissioner, Jay Monahan seems to be the guy that everyone points to as incompetent during the recent LIV/PGA Tour impasse. But is he really? The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), led by Yasir Al-Rumayyan wanted to become financially involved with the PGA Tour to help offset negative publicity and world perception surrounding human rights issues, seemingly condoned by the Saudi government. Funded by quarterly profits of $40 billion, from the government-owned Aramco Oil, the PIF has invested in sporting events around the world to improve its image. When they wanted to put money into the PGA Tour, some control over how that money was spent. With visions of the falling twin towers and 9-11 still on everyone’s mind, PGA Tour officials did not see a partnership with the Saudi’s to be popular with golf fans. It could lead to negative press in this country and undermine the charitable efforts of the PGA Tour. The Saudi’s decided to start their own professional golf Commissioner Jay Monahan and the tour leadership told them, “Thanks, but no thanks.” When the Saudi’s originally met with PGA Tour, most of the questions asked by the tour were about Saudi human rights violations and their answers were not satisfactory to the PGA Tour brass and attorneys. The PIF wished to be supporting sponsor, not really take over, but be involved from a financial perspective. For anyone this would be a very scary business arrangement. You know the old saying, “He who has the gold rules.” In this case if the PIF put billions of dollars into the PGA Tour, you know they most certainly would want
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