‘Truly Believe It’: Despite the Jay Monahan Upset, Keith Pelley Believes Yasir Al-Rumayyan Will Finalize the Merger in Months

“I truly believe a deal can be reached,” says a soon-to-be-leaving Pelley as he exudes confidence regarding the whole merger. Well, it seems golf fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief! Keith Pelley’s departure from the DP World Tour to become the president and CEO of MLSE, amidst all the merger chaos, came as nothing short of a shock to the golf world. But now, it appears he will not leave it hanging as of yet.

The outgoing European Tour official has reportedly revealed a request he made to stay on for three more months at the golfing body to see through the framework agreement. However, while doing so, he made sure to express his belief in Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who, despite being in a queasy situation with Jay Monahan, would make sure to make the merger a reality!

Keith Pelley’s take on the framework agreement

Pelley has supposedly asked to stay on for a few more months in the hope that a conclusion can be reached with their deal with LIV Golf, something that he dubs his “primary focus.” Adding on, he recounted the time when the deal seemed impossible during the biennial tournament: “I said things would heat up after the Ryder Cup, and they have,” he said while continuing, “So yeah, I’m optimistic over the next couple of months… I truly believe it”

However, while disclosing his decision to wait, he also pointed out how the actions of the governor of PIF have given him hope of the deal happening. How, you ask? Al-Rumayyan, by poaching Jon Rahm, reportedly forced Monahan to “act quickly” and announce their deal with the Strategic Sports Group before announcing the meeting with the Saudi businessman during Christmas.

Although the meeting did not take place, it was reported that the two had a “long conversation on the phone,” which has further pushed on the discussions. Hence, this has made him want to “hang around” before leaving for his “dream job.”

Well, this is truly a piece of good news for the golf fan. What’s more, it would have come off as a relief for the community following his appointment as the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

Pelley’s new role as MLSE’s CEO

As the outgoing executive officer of the DP World Tour turned 60 on Thursday, the new deal of him joining the parent company of the Maple Leaf, Raptors, TFC, and Argonauts was announced. Moreover, he would be succeeding the company’s acting CEO, Cynthia Devine, who took on the position following Michael Friisdahl’s departure in 2022.

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Well, when the official, who is a key figure in the negotiations, was set to join the sports company, it truly painted a worrisome picture for the European circuit and the future of golf as a whole. However, the recent reports and his decision to stay back do give the golf fans some hope of a successful framework agreement.

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