The owners of WWE and Fenway Sports Group, who own Liverpool, are among those exploring a competitive investment in the PGA Tour.
A plan to integrate the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and LIV Golf as a worldwide organization under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was revealed in June.
PIF now owns Newcastle and four of the top clubs in the Saudi Pro League as it expands into international sports despite charges of sportswashing.
However, according to Bloomberg, FSG is one of the American investors looking into a different agreement for the PGA Tour.
Henry Kravis, the co-founder of KKR & Co., and Endeavor Group Holdings Inc. are among others who are thinking about investing alongside FSG, which on Thursday announced a new minority stakeholder in LFC as a result of a deal with Dynasty Equity.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) was recently acquired by Endeavor as part of a merger with the UFC, under the management of TKO Group Holdings Inc.
It is unknown if those organizations would pool their investments, and it has even been suggested that they would “end up partnering with PIF.”
The PGA Tour was established in 1929 to oversee golf tours in the United States and Canada. Its proposed merger with the DP World Tour and LIV Golf was very contentious.
“US lawmakers have been vocal about their opposition to a deal, despite assurances by PGA representatives in July that the Public Investment Fund would be only a minority investor in the combined entity,” the report explains.
“A transaction remains a long way from completion, with the sides yet to agree to financial terms, and make further concessions to address regulatory concerns.
“Under the terms of its deal with the PGA Tour, PIF has the exclusive right to further invest in the new entity, including a right of first refusal on any capital invested.”
The owners of Liverpool have previously invested in golf, with Fenway Sports Management having ties to the Ladies PGA and the Deutsche Bank Championship on the PGA Tour.
In June, FSG also acquired a membership in TMRW Sports’ TGL, the online golf league supported by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.
Famously, the ownership group also has a 50% share in the NASCAR club Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing in addition to the NHL team Pittsburgh Penguins and baseball team Boston Red Sox.