PGA Tour players hire lawyer to demand information on PIF, investors

A handful of former and current PGA Tour players are so fed up with leadership they’ve hired a law firm to try and get some answers.

Susman Godfrey, the firm representing 21 players, recently sent a letter to the PGA Tour Policy Board demanding “full disclosure of the details and analyses of any proposals by prospective capital partners, which should be shared promptly with all Tour players.”

The players, who are all rank-and-file members at best, also demand a meeting with the independent directors on the Policy Board to discuss the process of selecting outside investors and what conflicts of interest may be present.

“The PGA Tour players who have been kept in the dark about this process are the lifeblood of the Tour,” the letter claims. “They deserve to know what is happening.”

No Laying Up’s Tron Carter shared the letter, dated Dec. 10, on social media Tuesday morning. The demands came the same night the Tour announced it had “unanimously selected an outside investment group to further negotiate with” and that talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund would continue, as well.

The firm sent the following statement to Golfweek: “The PGA Players we represent want transparency from the PGA Tour Policy Board before it makes any decisions impacting the permanent structure, economics, or competitive rules of the PGA Tour. Only with additional information can the PGA Players ensure that the right decisions are made for the right reasons and that no players are left behind.  Our clients know their sentiments and goals are shared widely by most PGA Players.”

Tiger Woods, one of the player directors, was adamant a few weeks back that the dealings in the dark with potential investors had to end. Player directors, who are voted on by the membership, have been sending updates since the shocking June 6 framework agreement with the PIF was announced. So why is this group of players so special that they deserve a meeting and privileged information?

Lynch: Jon Rahm’s greed isn’t the PGA Tour’s biggest problem, it’s the guys who want Saudi-sized money for staying

After the way the framework agreement was handled and announced, players have voiced their displeasure with and lack of trust in the Tour’s leadership. But let’s look at their careers by the numbers.