Former PGA Tour commissioner calls for LIV Golf and PGA Tour to 'co-exist' after unending battle

Former PGA Tour commissioner and former professional player Deane Beman favors a mutually beneficial agreement between the American-based tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). In his opinion, this is the "best deal" that can be made.

Beman recently gave an interview to Sports Illustrated in which he stated that during his experience at the helm of the PGA Tour, his best business experiences benefited all parties.

Deane Beman and Scottie Scheffler (Image via Imagn).

Here is a portion of what Beman had to say:

"I think it’s best if they [PGAT and PIF] find a way of co-existing and meeting both sides’ needs. In any kind of business deal that I made for the Tour, I always felt the best deal was where both sides won and there was not a winner and a loser. So I think that finding a way where both sides can win is important."

The PGA Tour and the PIF announced the signing of a framework agreement on June 6, 2023, and have since been negotiating a definitive agreement. The goal is to find a way to end the crisis that men's professional golf has been experiencing since the emergence of LIV Golf in 2022 and the subsequent actions taken by the PGA Tour to counteract the exodus of players to that league.

Originally, the final agreement was to be completed by the end of 2023, but the deadline was postponed indefinitely due to the lack of consensus. Currently (October 2024), there is no definite timeframe for the agreement to be completed.

Who is former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman?

Deane Beman began his golf career as a player, with an extensive stint in the amateur ranks (including U.S. collegiate golf). He won the US Amateur Championship twice (1960, and 1963) and the British Amateur Championship once (1959).

At 29 (1967), he decided to start his professional career and two years later won his first PGA Tour tournament (Texas Open Invitational). He would win thrice more by the year 1973 (1970 Greater Milwaukee Open, 1972 Quad Cities Open, and 1973 Shrine-Robinson Open Golf Classic).

In 1974, he began his 20-year tenure as commissioner. Beman was the architect of numerous initiatives that are now strengths of the Tour, including:

• The Players Championship
• The Tournament Players Club (TPC) network
• A pension plan for Tour players
• The introduction of what is now known as PGA Tour Champions
• Launched what is now known as the Korn Ferry Tour
• Increased Tour assets from $400,000 in 1974 to $260 million in 1994

After retiring as commissioner, Beman resumed his professional playing career, this time on the Senior circuit. He played in only 69 events between 1994 and 2005, without a single victory.