--- title: "US Senate panel urges PGA Tour commissioner, LIV CEO to testify on controversial merger" description: "The invitation was extended on Wednesday to PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman to testify at an 11 July hearing." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "UNIQUE INVITATIONAL" author: "David Shepardson" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/david-shepardson/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-06-22-us-senate-panel-urges-pga-tour-commissioner-liv-ceo-to-testify-on-controversial-merger/" published: "2023-06-22T14:36:15" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 487 --- # US Senate panel urges PGA Tour commissioner, LIV CEO to testify on controversial merger > The invitation was extended on Wednesday to PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman to testify at an 11 July hearing. By David Shepardson · Published 22 June 2023, 16:36 SAST ## Key points - Senator Blumenthal has invited the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to appear before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations to answer questions about their planned merger, as the Justice Department investigates whether a monopoly over professional golf operations will be created and criticism of the Saudi government's human rights record lingers. - Democratic US Senator Richard Blumenthal and Republican Ron Johnson have invited PGA Tour and LIV Golf to appear before the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. - Blumenthal is investigating the Saudi takeover of PGA Tour and its implications for the sport and US national interest. - The Justice Department is investigating the PGA Tour for trying to keep its players from defecting to LIV. - Critics have accused the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIV) of being a vehicle for the country to improve its reputation as it faces criticism of its human rights record. ## Content Democratic US Senator Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and the panel’s top Republican Ron Johnson invited them to appear. “Our goal is to uncover the facts about what went into the PGA Tour’s deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund and what the Saudi takeover means for the future of this cherished American institution and our national interest,” said Blumenthal. “Americans deserve to know what the structure and governance of this new entity will be.” ![Head of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, has been invited to a US Senate hearing to shed light on the merger with the PGA Tour. (Photo: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/osM_HkztajqovHQYvyBNPGDEvqg=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1492708293-1.jpg) *Head of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, has been invited to a US Senate hearing to shed light on the merger with the PGA Tour. (Photo: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)* A PGA Tour spokesman said the Tour looks “forward to appearing before the Senate subcommittee to answer their questions about the framework agreement” but did not specify if Monahan would appear. The PGA spokesman added the Tour held discussions with players Tuesday night and is “working toward negotiating a final agreement that is in their best interest and ensures that the Tour leads any new venture.” LIV declined to comment while the Public Investment Fund did not respond to a request for comment. Blumenthal earlier this month asked the PGA Tour and LIV Golf for communications and records on their planned merger as part of an investigation, citing concerns about the Saudi government's role in the deal and risks posed by a foreign government entity assuming control over the sport. ![Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner, has also been asked to explain to the US Senate why they went into partnership with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/iNSAcDuTJcKVpnSwzTGhgfL39PE=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1473068672.jpg) *Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner, has also been asked to explain to the US Senate why they went into partnership with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. (Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)* **Read more in Daily Maverick:**[PGA-LIV Golf merger inquiry may lead to subpoenas, says senator](http://dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-06-19-pga-liv-golf-merger-inquiry-may-lead-to-subpoenas-senator-says/) Last week, Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden asked the Justice Department to open an antitrust investigation into the planned deal, saying they believe it would result in a monopoly over professional golf operations. The Justice Department has been investigating the PGA Tour for trying to keep its players from defecting to LIV. ![LIV Golf CEO & Commissioner Greg Norman acknowledges the crowd during the trophy presentation on day three of LIV Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Course on 23 April, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/aXXopvzSgnFM3FqK0wgUM_fGz9w=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GettyImages-1484331693.jpg) *LIV Golf CEO & Commissioner Greg Norman acknowledges the crowd during the trophy presentation on day three of LIV Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Course on 23 April, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)* The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and rival Saudi-backed LIV circuit, which had been involved in a bitter fight that split the sport, announced an agreement to merge and form one unified commercial entity. The LIV Golf series is bankrolled by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIV). Critics have accused it of being a vehicle for the country to improve its reputation as it faces criticism of its human rights record. Much of the backlash against PIV and LIV Golf centres on the alleged involvement of the Saudi Arabian government in human rights violations, including the [murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-10-04-saudi-prince-has-immunity-in-khashoggi-killing-lawsuit-say-lawyers/) in 2018. **Reuters/DM**