The owners of Newcastle United, LIV Golf, will face fierce competition from FSG, the owners of Liverpool.
Fenway Sports Group has initiated discussions about investing in the PGA Tour, according to Liverpool CEO Tom Werner. This will place them in direct rivalry with Newcastle’s owners, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and their LIV Golf brand.
In September, Reuters revealed that the owners of Liverpool were considering making a bid to acquire a share in PGA, the organization that hosts the world’s top gold championships, directly competing with the PIF. Then, according to the Liverpool Echo
that a move was on because the owners wanted to diversify their business beyond the Anfield club and into other sports including ice hockey, baseball, and golf. Those preparations were in full gear once Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Mike McCarley acquired a franchise team for the new TMRW league competition.
Additionally, Werner declared that negotiations had begun, though he would not divulge any specifics.
“We really don’t like to talk about things that are in discussion,” he stated. Actually, the reason we’re here is to discuss tomorrow’s golf, our team, and everything we can do to support Rory and the PGA.
All we want to do is offer any ideas that come to us artistic support. The players truly have the final say over the course they wish to take. I attest that we have exchanged messages.
This could be detrimental to the PIF and their LIV Golf brand, which was intended to compete with the PGA. Ever since LIV was established in 2021, this rivalry has been engulfed in controversy. Though it was reported this year that the two would unite, the PGA swiftly moved to say that it would BAN any golfer who elected to participate in the new league upon its founding.
Given the intense rivalry that the two firms had developed over a three-year period, this came as a major shock. However, any potential merger-based arrangement still needs to be approved by regulators and other requirements must be met.
Additionally, this has made room for outside investors, which has sufficiently aroused FSG’s curiosity to prompt them to enter the golf industry. According to reports, the PGA and PIF’s agreement is in jeopardy and that their ongoing discussions are coming to an end. This might lead to a major escalation in the PGA-LIV rivalry.
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