Are Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan dating again? Both attended the same conference in Saudi Arabia | Golf news and tour information

Fans yearning for an end to professional golf’s civil war are thirsty for any sign that protracted negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf’s financial backer, are making progress. That’s why PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, playing in the same pairing during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland earlier this month, have received so much publicity. The fact that the two were together seemed to suggest that talks remained ongoing.

By the same token, news that Monahan was in Saudi Arabia this week for a summit chaired by Al-Rumayyan would appear to be another indicator that talks may continue. Golf Digest confirmed what was first reported by Bunkered.co.ukthat Monahan, along with several other PGA Tour “team members,” was in attendance at the Future Investment Initiative (FII), an annual PIF conference in Riyadh. Presumably, Monahan and Al-Rumayyan could have met at some point.

Additionally, Bunkered reports that the two will be together for a nighttime pro-am outing in conjunction with the Aramco Ladies Team Series event, which also takes place this week in Saudi Arabia. According to Bunkered, Monahan and Al-Rumayyan are expected to play together in the outing, with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman also in attendance.

At the opening of the FII conference, Al-Rumayyan made news by announcing that the PIF will reduce the amount spent on international investment to focus more resources on the domestic economy. What this means for PIF’s involvement in LIV Golf or in the future with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour should it become a partner in PGA Tour Enterprises is unclear. The Financial Times he reported that Al-Rumayyan’s commitment is in respect of future expenditure and that ongoing investments will not be affected.

Exactly where things stand on a possible PGA Tour/PIF deal remains very unclear. Monahan did not comment on the status of negotiations when meeting with the media after playing at Dunhill Links; he previously said he did not want to negotiate in the media.

Both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf are moving forward with their own separate schedules for 2025. LIV has announced the first four events it will hold next year, with the rest of its 14-tournament schedule to be announced by the end of the year.