PGA Tour gets investment from Strategic Sports Group amid LIV talks

A U.S. consortium has agreed to invest up to $3 billion into the PGA Tour, the professional golf organization announced on Wednesday.

Under the terms of the deal, the investor, Strategic Sports Group, will become a minority owner in PGA Tour enterprises, the for-profit entity of the PGA Tour. The group will make an initial investment of $1.5 billion in the PGA Tour.

The second $1.5 billion of the investment is guaranteed, according to a source familiar with the talks. The PGA Tour will get it once negotiations with the Saudi investment fund conclude. There is no deadline for those talks to end.

The agreement comes as the organization tries to plot out its future in the face of competition from the upstart LIV Golf and a proposed merger with the Saudi-funded league. The Tour confirmed progress on its ongoing negotiations with PIF on a potential future investment and its discussions with the DP World Tour.

“Today marks an important moment for the PGA Tour and fans of golf across the world,” PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said.

The deal received unanimous support from the PGA Tour player directors.

As part of the new agreement with Strategic Sports Group, the Tour said nearly 200 players will have the opportunity to receive equity participation in the Tour the league said. These would be awarded in the form of grants, which vest over time — and would be based on their career accomplishments and future participation and services with the Tour.

“By making PGA Tour members owners of their league, we strengthen the collectives investment of our players in the success of the PGA Tour,” Monahan said.

Strategic Sports Group is led by Fenway Sports Group’s John Henry. It includes a variety of investors, private equity names and sports owners, including Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank,…