The PGA Tour – Saudi PIF (Public Investment Fund) Framework Agreement is perfectly clear about who will decide if LIV Golf continues or is shut down. Let’s walk through it step by step.
Connect On Venmo: ThinkingManShow
More of Our Thoughts On Twitter: @ThinkingManShow
Contact Us: www.ThinkingManShow.com
29 Comments
A lot of really delusional people commenting here and elsewhere.
Firstly, Jay Monahan has likely already been fired and is gone.
We won't see him again in the future, and certainly not in any meaningful capacity, so stop talking about him as if he still matters.
Second, LIV Golf's product format is too entertaining and too compelling for it to be abandoned outright.
Don't bet on that to happen, and don't bet on those star players on that LIV roster to be willing to accept it being shut down.
Not going to happen.
Thirdly, none of this LIV/PGA merger agreement means anything if it is found to violate US anti-trust laws and regulations, which it probably will, so some kind of new agreement would need to be ironed out for approval.
Fourthly, there won't be any "approval" forthcoming until the PGA first agrees to convert to a for-profit business entity like every other professional sport is.
The PGA exists to make money, put butts in the seats, and entertain fans.
No different than LIV.
The issue now becomes how do you organize three separate tours, or consolidate two separate tours, or make a mix-and-match combination of all three tours of the world's best professional golfers under one cohesive global umbrella.
What is the end product format going to look like?
Will there be multiple product format offerings?
Will there be a ladder and relegation system?
Will the OWGR be scrapped or modified in favour of something new?
Who will get the bulk of the national television coverage, and/or how would it be divided up?
Will the PGA players seek to create a player's union like there is in every other major professional sport?
Well, the answer to all the above questions is that some highly intelligent and very astute business people will need to be placed in charge of creating that new vision, under a new framework, and driving that process forward.
Such people have clearly not yet been engaged, especially in the PGA's ranks.
For his part, Greg Norman knows a lot about running successful businesses and employing lots of people, but is perhaps not the most well-liked figure amongst the PGA's roster of players.
But what has been made clear up to this point is that the "merger" deal was announced with absolutely zero clue or even the foggiest idea of what the end product was going to look like.
As such, there are going to be lots of fireworks seen unfolding over the next couple of years.
Watch for them.
They invest more in Videogames
It makes no difference there is no more American golf….ruined because of greed.
Great show and channel, providing business logic and sense behind a heavily spun letter of intent.
Another great video! Where’s Dark Star?
All this talk about liv going away. I hope that it stays. But no talk about 2morrow sports. Is that because of pgat chest fronting.?
What will happen to 2morrow sports.?
Please do something about this.
The future of LIV has already been decided…It will DIE at the end of 2024 (a because of contractual issues and b to allow the Saudis to 'save face') and the players who are on it will, if they pay for the privilege, be allowed back into the PGA/PIF competition. Greg Norman will be 'pensioned off..he failed as a golfer, a marriage counsellor and now as businessman. Considering all the CRAP being spoken about this situation, it is a good job social media was not around at the end of WW2…just imaging the arguing over who should go where and with whom that would have taken place then Let LIV die. It has been a failure and an embarrassment.
Critical is that PIF equity in NewCo is based on their golf assets, so they wont let Jay or replacement price this at $0, it will be valued at $1.5bn+…… PGAT is a faux NFP charity based in America, that will never grow world golf, LIV is the vehicle of NewCo, throw in multi year deals in Adelaide and Valderama. PIF will make the US tour strong by sponsorship in exchanging for PGAT branding to endorse and legitimise LIV, it is very obvious, hell they already do it with the Asian tour.
Correct, the Chairman of the Board is key. Plus it's hard to dismiss an estimated £700 million dollars of investment in LIV Golf per season. The only thing that could possibly slightly change is the brand name, for example, PGA LIV Golf Invitational. PGA Tour (unchanged) etc. Just as long as players have the opportunity to play in all events by qualification or status everything will be fine.
There are a number of points which no one in the MSM has mentioned:
1. Both parties are contributing assets. PIF is contributing LIV + cash in exchange for shares in NewCo. That means a value for LIV needs to be agreed to determine how many shares PIF will receive in NewCo. If the PGA Tour is intent on shutting LIV down in 2024, that would mean LIV should have zero value. Would the PIF be prepared to accept that ?
2. The PGA Tour and DP Would Tour have committed to a "best efforts" obligation to assist LIV in securing OWGR points. No Laying Up is completely wrong. Best efforts is a legal term with a very high threshold. Commercially responsible efforts would be for the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to raise the topic at next OWGR meeting and give a powerpoint presentation why LIV should receive points. Best efforts obligation would be for the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to lock the doors in next board meeting and say we are not leaving until we agree LIV receives points. Hyperbole but this was likely one of the key negotiated points in the agreement and shocked PGA / DP Tours agreed to this provision.
3. What happens if deal doesn't happen ? PGA Tour wins by having current litigation dropped "with prejudice" and benefits by standstill LIV agreed to not sign players for 2023… but Ryder Cup year so who would really leave now. And two what happens longer term ? Should be far easier for LIV to sign players previously on fence. Nothing like having an offer for $100 million, vanish and then reappear. And how does OWGR continue to refuse points when PGA Tour previously committed to a "best efforts" obligation. Another lawsuit waiting to happen.
4. PIF wins either way. If deal happens they will own the PGA Tour. If not, LIV is in a better position. Better players. Hypocriscy exposed. OWGR points. That means LIV is in a much stronger position while the PGA Tour is in a far worse position throughout the rest of negotiations
Just one question: if, as it’s written in the framework agreement, all parties agree not to poach each other’s players. Where will LIV’S new players come from? surely they can’t just continue without fresh faces.
WELL JAY IS MISSING I WONDER WHY HE MUST BE VERY ILL OR BUISY SPENDING MONEY AND YOUR QUITE RIGHT PIF WILL DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS END OF
BUT WHO'S GOING TO BE IN THE PGA BECAUSE ITS BOARING AT THE MOMENT IF YOU WATCHED LIV FROM VALDARAMA THATS WHAT GOLF SHOULD BE LIKE FOR FANS THOUSANDS ON THE CORSE MILLIONS ON U THBE THRILLING TO THE LAST HOLE
Why are so many wrong? It's because todays media is only interested in getting the scoop instead of actually reporting what is factual. That goes across the board in all news.
Always the voice of reason 🙏🏽
A sane and rational take on the agreement. Thank you.
I've been trying to tell folk that Jay hasn't got carte blanche to do whatever he wants as he is governed by the board which is led by Yasser.
But some people just don't want to hear it.
Agreed, the PGA shills on the Golf Channel keep attacking LIV with unsupported claims that LIV is dead. The new board leader is the head of the PIF case closed. Your take is correct
Last year in malta LIV offered DPWT funding and equity in LIV. Jay stopped that .
Jay Monahan needs to be gone and forgotten…and it’s NO SURPRISE that the snowflake golf media (who may or may not be able to break 100 in an 18 hole golf match) — need to stop lying and shut the F up!!!
That's a good looking Masters towel!
Would you do a show discussing the punishment idea? How can LIV players be punished in a free market society? Do the LIV players have a league right to sue if punished? Also, they will all be one company soon, why punish your employees?
You don’t let the fox run the hen house , Simple
If Darkstar does not return soon we may need to rename him Harvey the Rabbit……
TMS nailed it again. Its amazing the way the situation is being handled by the PGA..it's PR catastrophe!!! Got me wondering why they dropped a bombshell, hung Monahan out to dry and then clammed up..and now we have all this endless ridiculous speculation in legacy media and ill-informed youtubers??. Information black-out..makes me think they had to put the news out before it got leaked to the press! or have the PIF planned all this. crazy times we are living through. Monahan must be in a coma..that unspecified illness has rendered him mute and unable to even send a tweet 🙂
Again, the most common sense analysis regarding the PGA Tour/LIV/DP Tour situation. Money will be calling the shots. Not Monahan. Monahan is gone, let's be honest (which you are and mentioned). Follow the money!
Jay will be booted out
He who pays the fiddler…calls the tune
Old story…follow the money
Not throw away Greg and all his LIV CREW
NOT ROCKET SCIENCE
US PGA AND EURO TOUR…GOTTA EAT HHUUGGEE…HUMBLE PIE
⛳⛳⛳
Greg Norman is destroying golf and he wanted to!
You don't think that the media has their on agenda??? That can't be right.
LIV IS GOING NOWHERE AND ITS PLAYERS DONT WANT YHE PGA AS IT IS YOU WANT THEM THEY DONT WANT YOU AND YOU WANT THEM TO PAY TO COME BACK YOUR HAVING A LAUGH ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN YOU LOOSE AGAIN