LIV Golf proposed idea of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy owning LIV teams and playing on rebel tour during negotiations over PGA Tour merger
The LIV Golf League drafted proposals for Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods to own franchises on the breakaway circuit, according to documents released on Tuesday during a US Senate hearing.
In a series of compelling disclosures about the negotiations that preceded last month’s shock merger of golf’s warring factions, it was revealed that peace brokers brought in by the Saudi Public Investment Fund also suggested Woods and McIlroy play in around 10 LIV tournaments.
Although there was no formal detail on how those suggestions were greeted by two of LIV’s staunchest critics, a cue can be taken from McIlroy’s response in the days after the ‘framework agreement’ was announced between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF, when he said: ‘I still hate LIV.’
The disclosures were made by a Senate subcommittee that is scrutinising foreign involvement in an American sports league, as well as exploring possible anti-trust violations.
The subcommittee released a 10-page summary document, in addition to 265 pages of emails, that cast a light on the nature of the talks ahead of the secret merger.
LIV Golf drafted proposals for Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods to own teams on the rebel tour
Another proposal was for PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan to become a member at Augusta
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Although it is unclear if any of the proposals from either side were accepted, they paint a fascinating picture of what each party was pushing for as a means of achieving a ceasefire.
The disclosures confirmed the key role played in peace talks by Newcastle United director, Amanda Staveley, as first revealed by Mail Sport.
Among the information was a presentation by Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners company, entitled ‘Best of Both Worlds’, which contained the proposal for McIlroy and Woods, as well as floating a global ‘World Golf Series’ and the possibility two of the PGA Tour’s designated events being branded by the Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco.
A further hope was for Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the PIF, to be granted membership of Augusta National.
From the PGA Tour side there were suggestions for Greg Norman’s role as LIV CEO to be terminated, which was evidently rejected.
Despite the merger, uncertainty continues to rein in the sport, with little clarity on the specifics of how the agreement will work if it is ratified.
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