‘More Money to Ruin Professional Golf’: Yasir Al-Rummayan and Co Blasted on Social Media as $160B Move Comes to Light

Just days after the PGA Tour announced its strategic partnership with SSG and enabled an initial $1.5 billion investment, its counterpart gets a 100-fold investment worth more than what was invested in the Tour. The sole investor in LIV Golf, which is the Public Investment Fund helmed by Yasir Al-Rumayyan, has recently been given 8% of shares from Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Aramco.

Bob “Golf” Ball, a golf enthusiast and commentator, posted on his X (formerly Twitter) about the news first reported by The Associated Press. Bob explained that the transferred shares to PIF were done “to continue their investment in targeted areas, including LIV GOLF.” That means, the stock will not only be invested in LIV Golf but in other mega projects of the firm as well. However, the breakaway league may receive a certain amount from the $160 billion investment.

The financial support that LIV Golf now has will surely be greater than what the PGA Tour signed the deal for. This sudden investment in the PIF-backed league may pose a threat to the Tour, as LIV Golf may harness and compete with the Tour with a better structure. The PGA Tour may now hurry to finalize the merger that even Webb Simpson emphasized the need for it. 

As the news of PIF getting the billion dollars made it to the internet, there were several reactions from the golf world. Some found the news as an additional step for the growth of golf, while others ridiculed the league, contending that LIV Golf has yet to achieve the success level of the PGA Tour.

Netizens react as PIF gets more than $100 billion in shares 

It should be noted that in 2022 too, Crown Prince Mohammad transferred around 4% of Aramco shares to the PIF, which handles many international projects by Saudi Arabia, including LIV Golf. Nonetheless, the introduction of billions of dollars has not made everyone happy in the golf world.

Read More: Jay Monahan & Tiger Woods Ignoring Al-Rumayyan from PGAT Enterprises Paints a Bleak Merger Future

At first, this user’s comment may seem like a celebration. However, it was a sarcastic start to call the investment in Rumayyan’s league, which they believe will have a detrimental impact on professional golf, and ended the comment by taking a jibe at Ball for celebrating the news.

One golf enthusiast explained that the transfer wasn’t done only for LIV Golf but for all the other projects of PIF, including LIV, that have not made much return and were draining the fund.

This viewer was happy with the news, as they described it as an opportunity to “expand the game globally & create a terrific fan base w/multiple opportunities” for the best golfers to play together. They emphasized the need for leadership to navigate with chasm. Furthermore, they asserted that LIV golf is here to stay, and said, “@PGAT needs to come to their senses.” 

Another took the investment as a way for PIF to save the LIV Golf by adding more money to it because, as per them, it hadn’t made much return on investment.

One fan chose to compare the PGA Tour and PIF investments and put forth a question on the internet as they wondered who would come on top in the battle of the billions.

This user understood the investment but found it an apt example of how “money cant always buy success” indirectly calling out LIV Golf.

The Public Investment Fund and LIV Golf may have received insurmountable money. However, only time will tell whether the league will be able to leverage the recent opportunity in the best possible way and attract the golf world’s interest, like the PGA Tour.

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