With men’s golf moving toward a merger between the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the DP World Tour, a significant partnership was to be entailed between the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. However, the potential merger that was in talks since 2022 was delayed in November 2023. 

The reason for the delayed merger was once again the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Instead of LIV Golf, this time it is a long-standing partner of LET, Golf Saudi. The enterprise had some questions regarding the LPGA Tour-LET merger, hence the merger between the Tours faced a delay. The new reports behind the postponed merger bring up three different aspects related to Golf Saudi, and how independently LPGA and LET can move.

The Golf Saudi may interrupt the LPGA Tour and LET’s potential merger deal

On 21st November 2023, the Ladies European Tour met with its shareholders to vote over the merger deal with the LPGA Tour. The Tour needed a 60% vote in favor of the deal for it to become an actuality. However, the voting was postponed indefinitely as the Ladies European informed “additional information received” as the reason behind the adjourning of the meeting.

Now, it has been released that the reason was, in reality, the Golf Saudi. The organization has been a partner of the Ladies European Tour and sponsors two different events. A letter first reported by Golfweek from LPGA Tour commissioner Mollie Marcoux revealed the crux of the issue and how Golf Saudi wanted to know the details of the deal as LET’s partner. This letter assured that the discussions with Golf Saudi are “constructive and collaborative.” In light of the merger, here are three major takeaways from Golf Saudi’s involvement.

1. The LPGA Tour may want to partner up with Golf Saudi: Golf Saudi is an essential part of the Ladies European Tour. It sponsors the Aramco Saudi Ladies International ($5 million) and the five Aramco Team Series ($1 million each). The total prize money from these two events is up to $10 million.

It is one-third of the LET’s overall prize purse, which is €34 million ($37.037 million). As a result, Golf Saudi holds significant ground on the LPGA Tour and LET’s merger future. Their opinion remains vital, and the influx of money offered cannot be ignored as it promotes expansion and innovation in women’s golf. As women’s golf gets deserved recognition across the globe, the LPGA Tour may want them as their sponsor as well, even if they resist admitting it.

2. LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour may merge eventually: Through 2024, the LPGA Tour and LET have only two years before their official partnership ends. That is the co-sanctioned events and providing Tour cards as was promised if the merger was finalized.

Moreover, the LPGA Tour needs the sponsorship of Golf Saudi for elevated purses and the Ladies European Tour needs the merger to exist for future stability and existence. More or less, both Tours will bend to fasten the merger process so that both can benefit in the end.

3. Golf Saudi did what LIV failed to do: While LIV Golf entered the men’s golf scene with the Public Investment Fund’s backing, Golf Saudi is part of the same venture. However, both were taken differently by the golf world. While LIV Golf gets scrutinized mainly every day for its existence, Golf Saudi barely ever gets criticized or is in the news.

The reason behind this can be that LIV Golf was seen as the rival of the PGA Tour and how they poached the Tour pros. On the other hand, Golf Saudi supported the Ladies European Tour players and gave them new and innovative opportunities to play golf and secure their future. The drastic difference pushed the LPGA Tour to consider Golf Saudi as a considerable partner rather than an enemy.

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In the end, the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour need the financial support of Golf Saudi. As stated before, Golf Saudi brings massive amounts of money into the European Circuit. Without their opinions taken care of, the LPGA Tour and LET merger would not take shape as intended. Nonetheless, the merger meet is said to be scheduled before the final LET event in Spain.

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