Representatives of the DP World Tour were present for the PGA Tour’s latest round of negotiations with LIV Golf backers, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia
Guy Kinnings is in charge of the DP World Tour
DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings has provided an update on the ongoing peace talks between the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) after attending the latest round of meetings.
On the back of a shock framework agreement announcement last June, PGA Tour bosses have been in discussions with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf over ending the ongoing dispute within the professional game. Over 15 months on, a deal is still yet to be signed off between the two sides.
There had been reports that progress surrounding a potential deal had been made in recent weeks, after PGA Tour representatives met members of PIF for a number of in-person meetings in New York.
One man who was also present in the room is Kinnings, and it appears there is a sense of agreement between those holding talks. “I’m very hopeful,” he told Sky Sports. “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for the game to come together and become more harmonious and global.
“There’s an ongoing process within the US between the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund, but in the room those discussions are ourselves, DP World Tour and the Strategic Sports Group. “I think everyone has the right attitude going into that and doing the right thing for the game and taking it forward.
“I see it as an opportunity and, hopefully, it will be what’s good for players, fans and everyone else.” Kinnings only recently took on the role of DP World Tour boss, having replaced his predecessor Keith Pelley in April, who ventured back to his native Canada to take on the CEO role with Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment.
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Yasir Al-Rumayyan is involved in PIF talks ( Getty Images)
Kinnings has taken on the role in one of the most turbulent periods in the history of professional golf, and was forced into an apology ahead of the Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last week. The timing of the PGA Tour’s meeting was criticised by some, having took place on the week of the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York.
Of the 19 attackers involved in the attack, 15 were Saudi nationals, but the Saudi Arabian government has consistently denied any involvement. “No, absolutely right. The point is that, unfortunately, we didn’t set the time frame and we didn’t set the agenda,” Kinnings said of the timing.
“From my perspective, I have only the absolute deepest sympathy and empathy for those families. We were called to a meeting which, I don’t think we spotted the dates, and we were trying to do the best thing for the game of golf. But there is a bigger picture for the families. I was there, I watched a number of the ceremonies, and all you feel is sympathy and empathy for the families.
“There was no intent in the meeting to show any disrespect – I don’t think it was intentional at all. The intention was to do the right thing for the sport but if anyone felt upset by that, then of course I apologise to them because I only feel deepest sympathy to those people.”
