PGA Tour-LIV Golf partnership facing government scrutiny - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — The U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has opened a review of the PGA Tour's planned alliance with the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), chairman of the subcommittee, notified PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan of the inquiry in a letter Monday. The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund (PIF) announced on Tuesday that they're forming a new for-profit entity that will combine their commercial businesses, including the LIV Golf League, which PIF is funding.

Blumenthal sent a nearly identical letter to LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman on Monday.

«While few details about the agreement are known, PIF's role as an arm of the Saudi government and PGA Tour's sudden and drastic reversal of position concerning LIV Golf raise serious questions regarding the reasons for and terms behind the announced agreement,» Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Monahan.

Blumenthal noted that PIF, with assets of more than $700 billion, was created by the Saudi Arabian monarchy and operated by a board under the guidance of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who will serve as chairman of the new golf entity, is one of Bin Salman's close friends and confidants.

«PGA Tour's agreement with PIF regarding LIV Golf raises concerns about the Saudi government's role in influencing this effort and the risks posed by a foreign government entity assuming control over a cherished American institution,» Blumenthal wrote. «PIF has announced that it intends to use investments in sports to further the Saudi government's strategic objectives.»

Blumenthal and other politicians have criticized the Saudis'