The PGA Tour’s COO to Testify at Senate Hearing
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour, Ron Price, is set to be among the primary witnesses called upon to testify during an upcoming senate hearing. Price, alongside Jimmy Dunne, a member of the board of the PGA Tour, has been requested to attend the hearing that will take place on July 11th. This will focus on the PGA Tour’s deal with Saudi Arabia-backed entity LIV Golf.
Senate Hearing: A Deep Dive into the PGA-LIV Deal
The senate hearing is titled, “The PGA-LIV Deal: Implications for the Future of Golf and Saudi Arabia’s Influence in the United States.” The purpose of this special hearing is to explore the ramifications of the partnership between the PGA and LIV Golf. This includes any potential influence Saudi Arabia may have on the United States through this agreement, given that it has a major stake in LIV Golf.
Organizing the Senate Hearing
The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will be conducting this hearing. This committee’s mandate is to conduct investigations into a broad range of matters, from inefficiency in government operations to the influence of foreign governments on the United States. The senatorial leadership of this committee, consisting of Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat-Connecticut) and Senator Ron Johnson (Republican-Wisconsin), requested several key witnesses to testify during the hearing.
Main Witnesses Requested for Testimony
- Ron Price: As the COO of the PGA Tour, Price is expected to provide key knowledge regarding the tour’s deal with LIV Golf.
- Jimmy Dunne: As a board member of the PGA Tour, Dunne is also expected to provide insights into the deal.
Unavailability of Other Witnesses
However, some of the testimonies that were initially expected might not take place on the initially planned date. Greg Norman, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LIV Golf, and Yasir al-Rumayyan, who is tasked with overseeing Saudi Arabia’s financial investments in the new golf entity, were also invited to testify. Unfortunately, both Norman and al-Rumayyan were unable to accommodate the July 11 date due to scheduling conflicts. As a result, the senators are currently seeking an alternate date that will suit their schedules.
Anticipated Importance of Their Testimonies
The testimonies from Norman and al-Rumayyan are considered to be of high importance for the hearing. Norman, as CEO of LIV Golf, is expected to shed light on the internal working mechanisms of the organization and its relation to the PGA Tour. As for al-Rumayyan, his role overseeing Saudi Arabia’s financial investments in the entity places him in a unique position to provide an understanding of any potential influence Saudi Arabia may exert through this business deal.
Future Updates on Hearing
As the hearing approaches, more information is expected to be released, providing further details and discussing the expected outcomes or developments. This includes the establishment of a new date for Norman and al-Rumayyan’s testimonies, once their scheduling conflicts have been resolved.