Are you ready for the PIF Classic at PGA National Resort?
Considering what has gone down the last month when it comes to golf, nothing can be ruled out.
Besides, if Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund becomes a title sponsor for the PGA Tour tournament formerly known as the Honda Classic, it wouldn’t be the most shocking development this year on the professional golf front.
That distinction goes to the events that led us to this possibility in the first place: The agreement announced three weeks ago between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF, the money behind LIV Golf.
The framework of the groundbreaking agreement between PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, was first reported Monday by The Athletic.
What was already known was Al-Rumayyan will join the board of the PGA Tour and chair the new joint venture formed to grow and promote the game of golf globally, an investment for which the PIF is willing to pay a reported $2 billion.
A minor expense for a sovereign wealth fund with estimated assets of $650 billion.
What we learned this week is that the PIF will be “a premier corporate sponsor” of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and other international tours (now we know what $2 billion buys), and a title sponsor of at least one event. Those tours will work together to identify a high profile event for the PIF to make that financial investment as title sponsor.
And it just so happens the tournament formerly known as the Honda Classic is looking for a new title sponsor after American Honda ended its 42-year partnership following this year’s tournament. Talks have been slow when it comes to a new title sponsor, which was expected with the Tour more involved in reworking the schedule and negotiations with the PIF that would reshape the game on a global level.
Although officials from the Tour and locally are confident a quality title sponsor will be identified before the 2024 tournament… an opening still remains for the PIF to expand its golf enterprise.
And although logic says the PIF will pump money into an event on the DP World Tour, if it does happen in the US – and that remains a big ‘if’ – Florida is as good a place as any to further the objective of distracting from Saudi Arabia’s atrocious human rights violations.
LIV Golf has become a favorite of the MAGA crowd, thanks to the vocal support of Donald Trump, whose properties are hosting three LIV events this season, events, by the way, whose future is unknown. Per the agreement, LIV Golf will now fall under the control of the PGA Tour, which, presumably, has the power to disband the league.
What better spot than a state turning more red by the day?
More: How PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger impacts Honda Classic and its search for new title sponsor
Be prepared for negative publicity and protests
What would it mean for signage promoting the PIF and Saudi Arabia to be plastered all over a golf tournament in this county? First of all, that property would have to be OK with hosting an event that would draw so much negative publicity and would be the target of protesters and further claims of sports washing.
But politics aside, and that would be difficult to ignore, it would be a way to ensure the end of Honda’s string of underwhelming fields.
Whatever event the PIF sponsors, it will certainly come with an increased purse and a guarantee that the best players in the world will participate. Despite Honda continuing to thrive when it comes to charitable donations, attendance and buildout, the fields have been weakened in recent years, primarily because of its spot in the schedule.
All those golfers who whine about the difficulty of the Champion Course suddenly would find it pretty friendly if $20 million, or more, was being handed out in prize money.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Could Saudi’s Public Investment Fund replace Honda as title sponsor?