Golf
European golf chief makes truly shocking PGA Tour-PIF admission
European Tour Group chief executive Guy Kinnings says officials from the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia have yet to formally meet.
Kinnings made the alarming admission to a small group of reporters in a media session this week.
In that Q&A, the 60-year-old Englishman also made comments that might ruffle the feathers of the ageing European Ryder Cup stars who bolted to LIV Golf two years ago.
Kinnings said there was ‘no need to change’ the Ryder Cup eligibility rules for LIV players for next year’s contest in New York.
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His words will undoubtedly be music to the ears of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
Hatton and Rahm both admitted they had put their Ryder Cup futures in jeopardy by joining LIV.
But Kinnings confirmed they can play the Ryder Cup providing they meet certain conditions.
Those conditions? Pay fines and, more crucially, serve a suspensions for DP World Tour events even if they are not entered.
Kinnings insisted this wasn’t a loophole.
And it raises the prospect of Rahm and Hatton teeing it up in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in November.
Theoretically, both players could also play the Andalucia Masters and French Open once LIV’s season is concluded.
Kinnings also had some thoughts on how to resolve the schism in elite men’s professional golf.
Last June, the DP World Tour, PGA Tour and PIF entered into a vague framework agreement.
It was widely viewed as a ‘deal to make a deal’ but nearly a year after that shock announcement it appears all parties have yet to formally meet.
World number two, Rory McIlroy, is poised to rejoin the PGA Tour’s policy board to break the impasse.
McIlroy appears somewhat reluctant to do so, but will do his bit. “I think I can help,” he said.
Kinnings said ‘compromise’ is needed, adding: “From my perspective, all I want to do is make sure we as quickly as possible get the right people around a table to talk about what can a future look like.”
He described LIV chairman Yasir Al-Rummayan as a ‘very smart guy’ and believes he has incentive to reach an agreement.
“He will know that,” Kinnings added.
“Everyone is going to have to give a bit to get to where you need to.
“The more you read headlines about viewership figures going down, people realise if they don’t move quickly there will be lasting damage.
“And I don’t think Yasir wants damage to the game, he clearly likes the game.”
Brooks Koepka with Yasir Al-Rumayyan
PGA Tour player directors, including Tiger Woods, met with Al-Rumayyan in the Bahamas in March after the 2024 Players Championship.
That meeting was described by attendees as simply a ‘constructive’ meet-and-greet.
Kinnings also welcomed the prospect of McIlroy’s return. He said his voice will be ‘really, really important’.
“We just have to get that negotiation started,” he said. “I get the sense it should be happening fairly soon.”
Perhaps disappointingly for golf fans, Kinnings suggested that it won’t be until 2026 when we could see some significant changes.
He added: “I will be doing everything I can to encourage people to make a decision as quickly as possible.
“The truth is people are having to do stuff they never thought they’d have to and they’ve got to be willing to compromise.
“If we find a solution we’ll have to move fast to make it work, but people have to get in a room first to talk about it.”
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