The Sconi

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the ranking member and chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, invited PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir al-Rumayyan, and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman to testify at a hearing of the subcommittee on July 11, 2023. The hearing will examine the planned agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund regarding the future of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf and professional golf in the United States.

“Fans, the players, and concerned citizens have many questions about the planned agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf,” Sen. Johnson said. “I look forward to hearing testimony from the individuals who are in the best positions to provide insight to the public regarding the current state of professional golf.  I hope that this hearing and any other role that Congress plays in this matter will be constructive.”

“Our goal is to uncover the facts about what went into the PGA Tour’s deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund and what the Saudi takeover means for the future of this cherished American institution and our national interest,” said Sen. Blumenthal. “Americans deserve to know what the structure and governance of this new entity will be. Major actors in the deal are best positioned to provide this information, and they owe Congress – and the American people – answers in a public setting.”

Invitations to al-Rumayyan can be found here, and Norman, here.

Full text of the invitation to Monahan can be found here and below: 

June 21, 2023 

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL 

Mr. Jay Monahan

Commissioner

PGA TOUR, Inc.

1 PGA Tour Boulevard

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082  

Dear Mr. Monahan: 

On July 11, 2023, the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will hold a hearing to examine the planned agreement between PGA TOUR, Inc. and the Public Investment Fund (“PIF”) of Saudi Arabia regarding PIF’s investment in golf in the United States, the future of the PIF-funded LIV Golf, the risks associated with a foreign government’s investment in American cultural institutions, and the implications of this planned agreement on professional golf in the United States going forward.  The hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. in SD-562 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

The Subcommittee respectfully requests that you appear in-person to testify at this hearing.  To assist the Subcommittee’s review, please be prepared to discuss the circumstances and terms of the planned agreement between PGA Tour and the PIF, how any new entities formed through the planned agreement will be structured, the expected impact on PGA Tour and LIV Golf players, and the anticipated role of the PIF in U.S. professional golf. 

Please submit a written statement to be included in its entirety in the printed hearing record.  Subcommittee rules require that the written statement be received by 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 7, 2023.  Please send your written statement and a brief biography via email to the Subcommittee’s clerk, [XXX], at [XXX].  In addition, please present an oral statement at the hearing.  We request that your oral statement be limited in length to five minutes to allow adequate time for you to engage in questions and answers with members of the Subcommittee. 

Please confirm your appearance on July 11th by no later than June 28, 2023.[1]  We look forward to your participation in this hearing.  If you have any questions, please contact [XXX] with the majority staff at [XXX] or [XXX] with the minority staff at [XXX]. 

[1] We understand that Mr. Monahan is currently on medical leave.  If he is not recovered by July 11, 2023, we will consider an appropriate representative of the PGA Tour who is able to speak on behalf of the PGA Tour and its planned agreement with PIF.

Original source can be found here.