Departing DP World Tour boss provides major LIV Golf merger update after missed deadline

Keith Pelley’s departure from the DP World Tour was confirmed on Thursday, but the CEO has pledged to work for three months to oversee the final stages of the Gulf peace deal.

DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley said he expects an agreement between Wentworth, the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s National Investment Fund to be in place before the tour officially begins in April.
The sports world was shocked last season when the PGA Tour announced plans to partner with the PIF, which includes the DP World Tour. The deal was expected to unite the world of professional golf and end the conflict between the two tournaments and rival LIV Golf.
They originally set a December 31 deadline to sign the contract, but missed that goal last month after negotiations took longer than originally thought. The PGA Tour announced hours before the deadline that it had resumed negotiations with PIF, also a US investor, Strategic Sports Group (SSG). Pelley now expects the deal to close within three months of the delay. “We hope to reach a conclusion and moving forward with that is my main focus in the next three months,” he said on Friday. I plan to be there until April and I have also told the PGA Tour and the PIF that this is my priority. Visit The Mirror US for the latest news, politics, sports and show business from America.

“I still trust him. That’s why we signed a framework agreement and we need to make progress on this.” Pelley confirmed his departure three months earlier than scheduled, with the Canadian returning to his home country in April as president of Maple Leafs Sports Entertainment (MLSE).
The tournament boss admitted he had decided to wait three months before officially switching roles to allow the world golf deal to be concluded. The 60-year-old added: “I’m not leaving for three months and that’s the main reason.”
“I talked to the [DP World Tour] president about staying on the nominating committee and trying to come full circle. I think unity in the game is what we all want. If that happens, I will be very pleased. Especially for me.”

After leaving the tournament, Pelley will take the reins at MLSE, which owns several Canadian sports franchises, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto FC and the Toronto Raptors. He will be replaced by current Vice President and Ryder Cup Director Guy Kinnings, who will oversee European golf.
Kinnings said of his appointment: “It has been an honor to work closely with Keith since I joined the tour in 2018. He wanted to change the European tour group and he certainly succeeded. It will be an honor to take on this role in April and I am honored to take on this responsibility. “I will continue to work closely with Keith, Eric and the Board over the next three months, as well as our players, staff and partners within the game, as well as our very impressive leadership and management team. Our tour has had some among the best performances in recent years. “It builds on everything we’ve done over the years.”