Phil Mickelson has called on ‘patience’ within professional golf with the PGA Tour set to miss their framework agreement deadline with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).
In June the world of sport was left in shock, after the PGA Tour announced they were set to end their feud with LIV Golf, in the way of a deal with PIF and the DP World Tour. On the back of the announcement both sides set themselves a target of December 31 to sign off a deal, a deadline that will of course be missed.
The slow-paced negotiations between the soon-to-be partners has led to growing frustrations within the sport, especially within the fanbases of the PGA Tour and LIV.
This was a point raised by entrepreneur Joe Pompliano on social media on Friday, who claimed golf fans are ‘exhausted’ by the split within the professional game. One man who has been at the centre of the saga is Mickelson, and in response the six-time major champion urged fans that the wait for an agreement would be worth it.
“Joe, I understand what you are saying,” he tweeted. “However, when it is all said and done, the average fan will see all the best players compete against each other way more often than before AND throughout the world. Sponsors will know what it is they are buying and everyone will end up ahead. Let’s all be patient.”
Mickelson’s comments come after the Telegraph reported that the deadline was set to be extended into the New Year. Per the report, the Tour and PIF have reassessed their target, and are now aiming to sign off the agreement by March, prior to next April’s Masters Tournament.
