19th Hole

Tiger: We don’t need Saudi money right now but ultimately we would like PIF to be part of our Tour

Published

1 day ago

Feb 15, 2024

In Tiger Woods’ pre-tournament press conference for the Genesis Invitational, he touched on many topics including a potential deal between the PGA Tour and the PIF.

The PGA Tour received roughly 1.1 billion dollars from the Strategic Sports Group which also includes a possibility for a future “co-investment” from the Saudi PIF, but according to Woods, the Tour may no longer need that additional investment.

“Financially, we don’t right now, and the monies that they have come to the table with and what we initially had agreed to in the framework agreement, those are all the same numbers.

“Anything beyond this is going to be obviously over and above.”

Woods added that while the PGA Tour doesn’t necessarily need the additional investment, they are still open to dealing with the PIF and negotiations are ongoing.

“Ultimately we would like to have PIF be a part of our tour and a part of our product.”

When asked if he knew what the PIF’s ultimate goal was, he said “yes and no”.

“From what their representatives have discussed with us, yes and no, because that changes and that evolves from a few months ago to what it is currently now.

“I don’t know if it’s good or bad, it’s an ongoing, fluid process.”

Since LIV’s inception, Woods has been one of the more outspoken players against the PIF’s involvment with professional golf in the United States, and he voted in favor of the deal with SSG.

“The consortium that they have at SSG, the partners that have come together to be a part of this group is quite remarkable to be honest with you in the sports industry,” Woods said.

“They’re unbelievable leaders. At the time that we need great leadership going forward, I think this elicits that.”

6-time Euro Tour champ says Patrick Cantlay ‘should be nailed with a huge fine’ over Genesis incident

Published

2 hours ago

Feb 16, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

During Thursday’s opening round of the Genesis Invitational, PGA Tour star Patrick Cantlay received some criticism for not yelling “fore” on a handful of his wayward shots on the back nine at Riviera Country Club.

Among the critics was former professional golfer, Tony Johnstone.

Back to back shots and Cantlay hits a ball-spotter and then spectators around the green. Would a shout of ‘fore’ be out of the question?

— Tony Johnstone (@TonyJohnstone56) February 15, 2024

One X user replied to Johnstone, to which Tony opined that Cantlay should be fined.

Correct. Should be nailed with a huge fine.

— Tony Johnstone (@TonyJohnstone56) February 15, 2024

He also accused Cantlay of “narcissism” for not feeling the need to warn spectators.

Or narcissism? Couldn’t care less about anyone else.

— Tony Johnstone (@TonyJohnstone56) February 15, 2024

In recent years, players such as Bryson DeCheambeau have taken a lot of heat for not yelling “fore” when the situation dictates it. It appears Cantlay may be the next player under the microscope for the same offense.

LET star becomes latest sportsperson to announce OnlyFans partnership

Published

21 hours ago

Feb 15, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Ladies European Tour player Amy Boulden took to social media to announce that she is partnering with OnlyFans.

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“Collaborating with OnlyFans gives me the opportunity to connect directly with fans and bring my followers on the journey with me as I compete around the world,” Boulden said when announcing the launch.

“OnlyFans is revolutionising the way we use social media, so launching my page on the platform felt like a natural next step for my career.

“With women’s golf continuing to grow in popularity, OnlyFans feels like the perfect platform to showcase the sport globally.”

Boulden has one European Tour win, the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open back in 2020. She is the second professional golfer to partner with OnlyFans, as British golfer Liam O’Neill launched a partnership with the platform last year.

Last year, tennis star Nick Kyrgios became one of the highest-profile sportspeople to join Only Fans in a bid to take fans behind the scenes of his career.

Report: LIV star prepared to quit breakaway tour ‘if Yasir gets stingy’ in impending contract talks

Published

21 hours ago

Feb 15, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

In the most recent edition of #AskAlan with Alan Shipnuck of the Firepit Collective, the author of “LIV and Let Die” reported that the Saudi PIF will have to pony up the big bucks once again if LIV wants to keep their biggest stars under contract.

Players such as Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson all received massive signing bonuses to join LIV, but those contracts will begin to run out after the 2024 and 2025 season, meaning they’ll need to be re-signed.

“The slow-playing can’t last forever—we will know in the next couple of months whether the framework agreement winds up in the recycling bin or if the PIF will invest a few billion dollars into PGA Tour Enterprises to buy its way into the golf establishment.”

“The time horizon that matters is four years, which is the length of the contracts of LIV’s biggest names. We’re now in year three.

“The future of LIV will come down to the negotiations and machinations between Yasir Al-Rumayyan and the tour’s best players, beginning this coming off-season.”

“LIV has done a remarkable job keeping it in-house but there is plenty of disenchantment among the players at the heavy-handed and often chaotic way the PIF runs the tour, with much of the decision-making filtered through the white-shoe law firm of Gibson Dunn; professional sports is very different from the oil business and courtroom litigation. But money can buy happiness, or at least acquiescence.”

“Someone close to one of LIV’s marquee attractions recently said this to me about the impending contract negotiations: ‘Will he stay? If they offer him the same money as last time around, absof—inglutely. But if Yasir gets stingy, he’s gone.”

Time will tell if Yasir Al-Rumayyan will continue to open the checkbook for some of world’s top professional golfers.

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