Daily Mail: PGA Tour and LIV Golf 'to push back merger deadline until April'

Story from Daily Mail:

The deadline for negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf's backers, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, is expected to be pushed back until April, according to a report.

After the PGA Tour's bombshell announcement of a 'merger' that effectively enforced a delicate ceasefire between itself and LIV Golf, the parties set December 31 as the deadline to have everything signed and sealed.

But with that deadline now just two days away, it appears highly unlikely that both sides will reach a concrete agreement.

The cut-off point could now be pushed back well into the new year, with the new goal to have an agreement hammered out before The Masters, which begins on April 11, according to The Telegraph.

'There's no chance a deal can be announced by the end of this week,' a source told the British publication. 'But, maybe by the end of March.'

Tiger Woods, a player director on the PGA Tour policy board, had been adamant just one month ago that a deal would be reached.

'I am confident a deal will get done in some way,' Woods said at the Hero World Challenge at the end of November. 'Whether that comes December 31 or is pushed back, all sides understand we're working together.

'There are no lawsuits. Everyone's understanding what that looks like, and we're all progressing going forward. Everyone's working right now with no animosity. We're trying to work to try and get a deal done for the Tour and for all parties involved.'

But despite the insistence, the December 31 deadline had always seemed ambitious, especially after the US Senate announced its interest in following the proceedings closely.

The insecure peace between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf was further rocked earlier this month when the breakaway landed its greatest coup to date.

Despite having agreed not to poach any more players, LIV sealed its biggest signing in the form of World No. 3 Jon Rahm on a massive $500million deal.

The move turned the tables in favor of PIF, who now have the power to bring the PGA Tour back to the table or scupper any negotiation.

It was followed by the announcement from the the PGA Tour policy board that it intended to negotiate with Fenway Sports Group - the owners of Premier League club Liverpool - as US investors.

It was reported that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PG governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan were set to meet before the Christmas period but there has been no news of a meeting since.