The PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund have dropped a provision from their framework settlement that barred LIV Golf and the Tour from recruiting one another’s gamers, the PGA Tour confirmed Thursday.
The transfer comes after the US Department of Justice raised issues it might violate antitrust legislation.
“Based on discussions with staff at the Department of Justice, we chose to remove specific language from the Framework Agreement,” the PGA Tour stated in a press release.
“While we believe the language is lawful, we also consider it unnecessary in the spirit of cooperation and because all parties are negotiating in good faith.”
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour stunningly introduced on June 7 that they had agreed to a take care of the Saudi backers of the insurgent LIV Golf circuit that may see the organizations be a part of forces.
READ: PGA Tour officials: No choice but to join LIV
The settlement nonetheless being finalized follows a bitter two-year civil battle that erupted after the launch of LIV Golf, which lured high PGA Tour expertise with document $25 million purses and cash ensures.
The deal has sparked scrutiny not solely from the Department of Justice but in addition from US legislators, with the US Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations holding a listening to this week into the controversial tie-up.
In addition to antitrust issues, critics have cited human rights abuses by the Saudi regime.
The PGA Tour has painted the union as a way of therapeutic the rift within the international recreation — and avoiding prolonged and dear litigation.
“The Framework Agreement sets the stage for an exciting future for professional golf that re-establishes competition at the highest levels of the sport and creates the biggest stage for everyone – players, sponsors, and fans,” the Tour stated in its assertion on Thursday.