LIV Golf News: Top 3 PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan Failed Moments in the World of Golf in 2023

Saudi Arabia’s PIF has been attempting to reach a deal with the PGA Tour for the last seven months. However, it has remained unsuccessful in finalizing the deal before the 2024 season. A loss that Yasir Al-Rumayyan might not have expected.

Other than this, there have been many approaches and deals that PIF-backed LIV Golf desired to have in an attempt to put further pressure on the PGA Tour, and in that as well, LIV Golf had to be disappointed by including only one Tour pro in 2023. As the 2023 season comes to an end, here are three failed moments of Al-Rumayyan.

The US court does not side with Yasir Al-Rumayyan

1. The subpoenas siding with the PGA Tour: After joining LIV Golf and getting suspended from it thereafter, Phil Mickelson and 10 other golfers sued the PGA Tour in August 2022. The consequence of this was that LIV Golf became a plaintiff in the case. The judge in the PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf litigation ruled in favor of the PGA Tour in February 2023.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan van Keulen gave the PGA Tour the capability to subpoena PIFs head, Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan. It meant that every material used by LIV Golf in soliciting players or operating the league should be turned over, and Al-Rumayyan had to testify. Thus, in the wake of subpoena orders, the head of PIF would’ve expected a faster approach toward the PIF-PGA Tour merger, which has now been delayed.

2. Delay in the merger: The PIF-PGAT merger was announced on June 6, 2023. The merger was expected and promised to be finalized by the 31st of December. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan assured that it was a “firm target,” and Tiger Woods (PAC Player Director) also echoed a similar stance on the deadline later in December.

However, as opposed to the former statements, the framework is now likely to be delayed. The deal will now be finalized around April, before the 2024 Masters. Even though the PIF would have expected the framework to be done by the end of December and even played a classic Jon Rahm, Al-Rumayyan will have to wait till the merger is reached for a for-profit entity.

LIV Golf’s failed attempts at poaching

3. Failing to acquire more young talent: LIV Golf lured in one of the best players from the PGA Tour, the world’s number three, Jon Rahm. The lucrative deal was the talk of the town for a while, and rumors were emerging about more Tour pros joining in. Names like Viktor Hovalnd, Ludvig Aberg, and Tony Finau were added to the list of soon-to-be-gone golfers.

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However, Aberg expressed that he “will never chase money,” and Hovland iterated that he isn’t a ‘fan’ of their product. On the other hand, Finau posted a discrete social media post, saying #imnotleaving. With Rahm’s inclusion in the league, a new team has to be formed. If the poaching of the players remains unsuccessful, the Al-Rumayyan-backed league will face serious trouble for the 2024 season.

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