The US Senate has asked Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, to appear before it on July 11 alongside PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman. .
It comes after the explosive deal was struck earlier in June for PGA Tour to merge with fierce rival LIV, ending the civil war that was derailing the game.
But Congress opened an investigation into the deal after it was announced.
“Fans, players and concerned citizens have many questions about the planned agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf,” reads a letter to Al-Rumayyan.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund pictured alongside former US President Donald Trump, has been asked to appear before Congress next month
Jay Monahan, 53, was asked to appear but recently stepped down as PGA Tour commissioner due to an unspecified medical issue.
‘To facilitate the Sub-Committee’s review, please be prepared to discuss the circumstances and terms of the intended agreement between the PGA Tour and the PIF, how any new entity formed under the intended agreement will be structured, the expected impact on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf players, and the anticipated role of the PIF in American professional golf.’
The letter sets a June 28 deadline for a response.
On June 14, Monahan stepped down as PGA Tour commissioner for an unspecified medical issue.
A joint statement from Monahan and the Tour Board read, “Jay Monahan has advised the PGA TOUR Board that he is recovering from a medical condition.
“The council fully supports Jay and appreciates that everyone respects his privacy. During Jay’s absence, Ron Price, Chief Operating Officer, and Tyler Dennis, Executive Vice President and President, PGA TOUR, will lead the day-to-day operations of the PGA TOUR with the help of the great team that Jay has assembled, ensuring continuity. We will provide further updates as needed.
Monahan, 53, spent nearly two months working on the deal with two PGA Tour board members, investment banker Jimmy Dunne and New York lawyer Ed Herlihy, unbeknownst to him. players.
Almost all say they are shocked. Some said they felt betrayed. The deal came nearly a year after Monahan made pointed remarks about LIV Golf’s source of funding, particularly regarding any Saudi connection to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“I recognize that people are going to call me a hypocrite,” Monahan said in a Zoom call after the merger announcement.
“Every time I’ve said something, I’ve said it with the information I had at the time, and I’ve said it based on someone trying to compete for the PGA Tour. and our players. I accept those criticisms. But circumstances change. I think looking at the big picture and looking at it that way is what got us to this point.