The immense affect of polarising star Patrick Cantlay on the PGA Tour has been blamed for triggering the shock defection of Masters champion Jon Rahm to LIV Golf this week — and for placing golf merger talks in critical jeopardy.
Rahm confirmed his departure on Friday in a deal that may reportedly see the Spanish world No.3 earn as much as A$1bn for becoming a member of the Saudi-backed circuit.
The transfer shocked the golf world, whereas exposing the poor well being of merger negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV golf’s paymaster, the Public Funding Fund, with Cantlay being no small issue.
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As soon as a heavily-rumoured LIV goal himself, Cantlay has all of a sudden change into a robust, key determine on the PGA Tour through his lofty new position on its coverage board.
It’s there that he’s stated to be closely pushing in opposition to turning a framework settlement between the PGA Tour and PIF to merge right into a actuality, as an alternative courting different personal funding and gaining the likes of Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth as allies.
Now a high-ranking official has blamed Cantlay for main a participant energy coup that has seemingly soured the negotiations, and compelled PIF to throw the financial institution at Rahm to hitch LIV.
“If Cantlay had not tried to take over the (PGA Tour) coverage board, then Jay (Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner) would have made a cope with the Saudis and the Public Funding Fund (PIF) wouldn’t have felt the necessity to re-open that limitless pockets to signal Rahm,” the supply informed Telegraph Sport.
“However the Saudis believed they have been at risk of being minimize out by all of the US traders which all of a sudden appeared and been inspired by a number of of the opposite gamers on the coverage board, so PIF acted.”
As reported by Tour insider Dan Rapaport on Friday, Cantlay reportedly desires the PGA Tour to favour a cope with private-equity group Acorn Progress Firms over PIF.
As such, Rapaport reported that the merger is “in jeopardy”, whereas a number of sources informed the reporter that behind-the-scenes at PGA Tour headquarters is “a large number”
In response to Sports activities Illustrated, the Saudis have been keen to supply up about A$1.5bn to PGA Tour gamers who initially turned down LIV cash if a merger grew to become ultimate.
However gamers have risen up in opposition to the negotiations and, led by Cantlay, have now gained the bulk voice on the PGA Tour coverage board, which has the ultimate say.
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The report claims that Cantlay and different gamers on the board, specifically Woods and Spieth, are in favour of chatting with US traders equivalent to Fenway Sports activities, and billionaire Todd Boehly.
Sports activities Illustrated goes on to assert that it’s particularly Cantlay, nonetheless, who has “seized management” and “someway turned himself into arguably probably the most highly effective individual on the PGA Tour, together with the commissioner”.
In flip, it’s seemingly PIF felt the necessity to acquire better leverage within the merger talks — and has now accomplished so by poaching one of many PGA Tour’s most necessary property in Rahm.
“Saudi most likely didn’t suppose issues have been going their approach to get an settlement,” former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley stated.
“So that they have introduced the chequebook again out to place issues of their favour.”
The PGA Tour now seems to be in a far worse negotiating place with the Saudis than it was in the course of the 12 months, when a framework settlement to merge was first introduced.
The deal was given till the tip of the 12 months to change into formal, nonetheless that deadline seems sure to be missed.
In the meantime, Cantlay has added one more chapter to what has been a controversial 12 months from the American.
On the Ryder Cup, he was taunted for not carrying a hat — which was reportedly a type of protest at not being paid to play.
His caddie Joe LaCava was then concerned in a heated incident with Europe’s Rory McIlroy on the 18th inexperienced, which spilled over into tense automobile park scenes.
McIlroy, who has since give up the coverage board, later stated: “My relationship with Cantlay is common at greatest.
“We don’t have a ton in frequent and see the world fairly in another way.”