PGA Tour insists players will have vote on final deal with Saudi's Public Investment Fund

The PGA Tour sought to assure players on Tuesday that they will have a say in the tour's new partnership with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), with its policy board issuing a statement that noted players would have to approve any final agreement.

The statement was released after a meeting of the board, which includes five players: Patrick Cantlay, Rory McIlroy, Charley Hoffman, Peter Malnati, and Webb Simpson.

On Monday night, media outlets obtained the tour's framework agreement with PIF, which said the PGA Tour and DP World Tour would work with their new partners to decide how defectors to the PIF-financed LIV Golf Series can return and what kind of punishment they should face.

Players have been frustrated by the lack of details in the framework agreement, which was negotiated in private by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, two independent board members and Yasir Al Rumayyan, the governor of PIF. As part of the deal, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf agreed to dismiss all pending lawsuits.

“Entering the framework agreement put an end to costly litigation. Management, with input from our player directors, has now begun a new phase of negotiations to determine if the tour can reach a definitive agreement that is in the best interests of our players, fans, sponsors, partners, and the game overall," the statement said.

“If future negotiations lead to a proposed agreement, it would need approval by the tour's policy board, which includes player directors. In the meantime, we are all committed to the safeguards in the framework agreement that ensure the PGA Tour would lead and maintain control of this potential new commercial entity," the statement continued.

Statement following today’s PGA Tour policy board meeting.