PGA Tours new billion dollar deal, PIF and LIVs role, and player reactions

Published: Feb. 2, 2024, 5:47 a.m.

This beefy Friday episode begins with some amusements from Andy\u2019s time at Pebble Beach, watching and betting on the hapless Ams trying to play the 17th hole in brutal winds. Eventually Brendan steers the ship onto the major news of the week, the PGA Tour\u2019s announcement of a new company with $1.5 billion in investment from SSG and the impacts of a new for-profit entity with player equity. They have some amusing inside intel from Jay\u2019s meeting with PGA Tour staff, the players Zoom call, and reaction from multiple sides both \u201ccelebrating\u201d and ruminating on what this means for PIF involvement. That's the elephant in the room they discuss -- can players take the next step and now unify? They also discuss what this money will go towards and what these private equity sharks will expect. Rory McIlroy\u2019s frustrated comments from earlier in the week are given a full rundown, and contrasted with Jordan Spieth\u2019s press conference. There\u2019s also reaction to LIV\u2019s announcement about \u201cevery shot\u201d coverage and the reasoning for Jon Rahm\u2019s team being named Legion XIII as their season begins at Mayakoba.