Reports suggest that Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the owners of Liverpool FC, are actively seeking to expand their already impressive sports portfolio. This Boston-based group, known for their ownership of the Boston Red Sox (a Major League Baseball team), the Pittsburgh Penguins (a National Hockey League team), and NASCAR’s RFK Racing, has made a significant move into the world of golf by acquiring a franchise in the Technology Golf League, led by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, which they’ve named Boston Common Golf.
The backdrop to this expansion is the ongoing division in the world of golf, mainly stemming from the creation of LIV Golf, a breakaway venture from the PGA Tour, funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. This divide has led to prominent golfers like Phil Mickelson, Brook Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and Bryson DeChambeau making controversial moves that have strained relationships.
In an effort to address this division, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) agreed to merge into a unified commercial entity with LIV Golf, setting a deadline for the deal’s completion by December 31st. However, reports indicate that there has been limited progress, and negotiations are at risk of collapsing.
FSG is reportedly in talks with the PGA regarding a potential investment deal, with John Henry, the group’s leader, making a substantial offer, according to golf journalist Alan Shipnuck. This development suggests that FSG is aiming to challenge the Saudi-backed Public Investment Fund in the golf world, raising the possibility of a return to a head-to-head competition between LIV Golf and the traditional PGA Tour.
In a related development, the Endeavour Group, owners of World Wrestling Entertainment and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, have reportedly had their investment offer rejected by the PGA Tour.
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