Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lindsey Von Join as PGA Tour’s High Profile Investors After Lebron James’s Entry

Not just billionaire sports team owners, but billionaire celebrities will also be a part of the PGA Tour enterprises. Earlier, LeBron James, Drake, and Chris Pratt were reported to be the new investors in the entity. The New York Times claimed that the NBA icon and Drake are “expected to use their marketing power to help the tour broaden its audience.” 

Now, Nuclr Golf tweeted, “The PGA TOUR says Lindsey Vonn and Arnold Schwarzenegger are among the high profile investors, joining Drake and LeBron.” Lindsey Vonn, who dated Tiger Woods between 2013 and 2015, will be a surprise addition to the group of celebrities. Schwarzenegger, erstwhile, once spoke about his fondness for the game, claiming that he was a decent player in the ’90s. However, he quipped that buying President Kennedy’s golf club for $700,00 ruined his game. 

Nonetheless, their investments in PGA Tour Enterprises will come as part of Main Street Advisors’ interest in SSG, as is Drake’s and James’. Notably, Drake and LeBron James have a minority stake in Serie A’s AC Milan, a top-tier soccer club in Italy. The four-time NBA MVP is also an investor in Fenway Sports Group since 2021. On the other hand, Drake has been a global ambassador of the Toronto Raptors.

“Golf can be so much more than a sport. I remember some of my best childhood memories was being on the golf course with my uncle. It’s one thing to invest in a team, but to help reimagine one of the biggest leagues in the world is an incredible opportunity and I’m excited to be a part of it,” the Canadian rapper said in a statement to New York Times Dealbook.

Read More: Johnny Manziel Backs Lebron James and Drake’s $3 Billion Investment Venture in the PGA Tour

The PGA Tour has

roped in Strategic Sports Group, a consortium of NFL, NHL, MLB, and EPL team owners led by Fenway Sports Group as a third-party investor in the PGA Tour Enterprises. SSG is set to invest $3B in the entity for a minority stake that will push the valuation to somewhere around $12B. The addition of Hollywood celebrities is expected to usher in a new era for the Tour. Where does the LIV Golf stand amid this?

The PGA Tour – PIF merger will happen, but can take longer

The PGA Tour is still in talks with PIF, the financial arm that bankrolls LIV Golf for the merger agreement. Although it was expected that the merger would see a breakthrough before the Masters, outgoing DP World Tour CEO, Keith Pelley hinted that it might take more time. “Whether it be in six months, a year, two years or 10 years, I think people are coming to the realization that a collective product is in the best interest of global golf,” Pelley told Sunday Times in an interview.

During the initial announcement of SSG’s involvement, Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner, said the path for LIV Golf to be a part of the entity remains open. Reportedly, SSG officials were present along with the commissioner when he traveled to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with PIF chief, Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Both Rumayyan and Greg Norman expressed positive sentiment around SSG’s involvement. Analysts believe it will also help fend off the U.S. Senate’s objections against partnering with the Saudi Sovereign Fund.

Read More: ‘Qualifier for LIV’: Can the Paul Azinger Dystopia Soon Become a PGA Tour Reality?