The future of LIV Golf appeared in the up in the air following an agreement between the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, but the breakaway league look here to say
LIV Golf have announced five new appointments as part of their executive team, as the breakaway league’s bosses remain in negotiation with their PGA Tour rivals.
On Wednesday, LIV confirmed that they had made a number of changes upstairs, including the appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer in David Phillipps. Elsewhere, Ross Hallett has been appointed Head of Events, whilst Katie O’Reilly has taken on the role of Head of Team Business Operations.
Two other changes have seen Pam Sacree appointed Head of Human Resources, whilst Tim Taylor will take over the running of the Saudi-backed circuit’s UK HQ in London.
Tiger Woods recently declared talks with the PGA Tour are “heading in the right direction” as both parties look to shape the future of golf. But LIV’s latest moves behind the scenes give a clear indication of the fact the league plans to go from strength to strength whatever the outcome of the reorganisation of the golf ecosystem.
The future of the breakaway league had been in up in the air amid the groundbreaking agreement between the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), which was announced last June. Tour commissioner Jay Monahan who is at the centre of the peace deal reiterated that the agreement is not part of a ‘merger’ with the LIV setup.
“Let me be clear that despite numerous reports,” Monahan said last summer. “This arrangement is not a merger between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the PIF. The PIF will be a minority investor.” Doubt was also cast after LIV CEO Greg Norman played no part in the initial negotiations that saw the two rivals announced their framework agreement on June 6.
The five new executive additions on Wednesday indicated the breakaway league has no plans of going anywhere, any time soon. This was a point emphasised by former world No. 1 Norman, who claimed last October that he had ‘zero’ concerns about the long-term future of LIV Golf.
LIV Golf appear to be building for the future ( Image: Getty Images)
“I knew exactly the investment into LIV and the long-term ability of the franchises, and the valuation of each one of these franchises,” he commented. “The money was always going to be invested in that and it will continue to be invested in that. I knew LIV was always going to exist.”
10 months on from the June 6 announcement, the PGA Tour remains in negotiations with PIF despite some concerns over the future of the deal. In March, representatives from the PGA Tour – including Tiger Woods – met with members of the PIF in a positive step for the future of professional golf.
Speaking at last week’s Masters, Woods revealed that the meeting between the two sides last month was a ‘positive’ one. “I don’t know if we’re closer but certainly we’re headed in the right direction. That was a very positive meeting, and I think both sides came away from the meeting feeling positive.”
