The Saudi Arabian Public Funding Fund (PIF) has over $720 billion in belongings and has invested closely in golf over the previous couple of years.

Their subsequent huge funding could possibly be The Open Championship, golf’s oldest main performed yearly in the UK.

“The world of sport has modified dramatically within the final 12 months, and it’s not possible for the R&A or golf to simply ignore what’s a societal change on a worldwide foundation,” CEO of the R&A Martin Slumbers mentioned Wednesday forward of The Open.

“We shall be contemplating inside all of the parameters that we have a look at all of the choices that we’ve got,” he mentioned in response to whether or not they would settle for the PIF as a sponsor of The Open.

Final yr, the PIF launched LIV Golf. The Saudi-backed league paid tons of of thousands and thousands of {dollars} to PGA Tour stars to return be part of the circuit to present it notoriety.

That features former main champions Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau, amongst others.

Picture by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photographs

This yr, on Jun. 6, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the PIF, and Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA Tour, appeared on CNBC to announce to the world that the PIF and the PGA Tour had entered right into a industrial partnership for the way forward for males’s skilled golf.

Now a serious championship might grow to be concerned with the PIF.

“We have now numerous massive company companions that assist us make this factor occur,” Slumbers added. “I believe the world has modified within the final yr. It’s not simply golf. You’re seeing it in soccer. You’re seeing it in F1. You’re seeing it in cricket. I’m certain tennis received’t be that far behind.”

The PIF bought an 80% stake in Newcastle United of the English Premier League in 2021. Earlier than that, Newcastle was a membership reminiscing on its historic previous whereas struggling within the current.

Now, with the PIF’s huge wealth and enormous investments, Newcastle is likely one of the high golf equipment in England.

The sovereign wealth fund has additionally invested closely into Formulation One racing, cricket, and the world tennis tour is reportedly subsequent, per the Related Press on Jul. 7.

In fact, Saudi Arabia has an extended historical past of human rights abuses, subjugating girls, and castigating homosexuality.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers of the Sept. 11 assaults have been additionally Saudi residents, and the Saudi Kingdom allegedly ordered the dismemberment of Washington Put up reporter Jamal Khashoggi too.

Regardless of this, the PGA Tour nonetheless entered negotiations with the PIF and struck a deal within the spring of 2023.

PGA Tour Coverage Board Member Jimmy Dunne performed a key function in these discussions, as did Monahan and Ed Herlihy, Chairman of the PGA Tour.

Ron Value, Chief Working Officer of the tour, additionally lent a hand.

“All credit score, I believe, goes to Jimmy and to Ron, the best way they dealt with themselves, and I used to be very impressed and glad I wasn’t sitting of their footwear,” Slumbers admitted Wednesday, alluding to the PGA-LIV Golf Senate listening to that happened Jul. 11.

“I do suppose that we’ve got to have a smart dialog in regards to the long-term monetary sustainability of golf, and that, as you say, got here up over the previous few months.”

Picture by Drew Angerer/Getty Photographs

For the reason that inception of LIV Golf, the 4 governing our bodies that facilitate the key championships have stayed out of the fray that was the PGA-LIV schism.

But, Augusta Nationwide, which runs The Masters, the PGA of America, which runs the PGA Championship; and america Golf Affiliation (USGA), which services the U.S. Open, together with the R&A, have all allowed LIV Golfers to compete inside their tournaments.

Every of those governing our bodies wished to guard the integrity of their competitions by permitting anybody who certified—typically together with previous champions—to take part.

However what the current yr has executed is elevate the 4 majors to a better stratosphere.

They imply extra as a result of each PGA and LIV golfers can compete alongside one another.

Due to the PGA’s current cope with the PIF, the R&A might even see a possibility to strengthen itself additional as effectively.

“I wish to be sure that we go away golf—once I’ve executed my time—in a stronger place than it’s,” Slumbers added. “Stronger place for me is extra folks enjoying golf. There are 100 million folks now enjoying golf. By no means occurred earlier than.”

“I believe each one in all us who’s working within the sport has a duty to suppose like that, together with within the enterprise facet {of professional} golf.”

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Make sure you try @_PlayingThrough too.