John Henry took on ‘bidding war’ after hearing about PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger

John Henry has admitted he entered a ‘bidding war’ in order to get Sports Strategic Group involved with the PGA Tour’s new for-profit entity, PGA Tour Enterprises.

Earlier this year, SSG committed to investing an eye-watering £1.2 billion ($1.5bn) into the PGA Tour, with Henry taking a venture into professional golf amid his links in football, ice hockey and baseball. The interest came after the Liverpool owner saw the PGA Tour’s plan to align with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).

Last June, the American-based circuit left the sport in shock, after announcing they had reached an agreement with PIF that would see them end their ongoing fallout with their rivals at LIV Golf.

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On the back of the announcement, Henry’s keenness to invest in professional golf was born, after noticing that there was no inclusion of any American investors amid the Tour’s choice to side with the Middle Eastern fund. Per the Boston Globe, Henry had met with Mark Attanasio, owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, and their interest started there.

“Nobody was stepping forward [to invest]” Henry said. “I remember asking in that meeting, ‘Why aren’t any Americans stepping up?’ Someone who was tied into the golf world said, ‘Don’t worry, there are a number of banks and bankers who are looking into this.’

“So two weeks went by. And still, no one stepped up.” Up stepped the Henry-led SSG who launch their bid to align with the PGA Tour, however they were not alone. “It became a bidding war,” the Boston Red Sox owner commented. “It is one of the most unique deals in the history of sports.

“Why do I say that? You have North American team owners coming together to invest as relatively small shareholders fully aligned with the players and having four seats on this board offering not directions of, ‘This is what we’re going to do,’ but offering counsel, advice, and support for the best way to build this enterprise going forward.”

Henry has since becoming a member of the PGA Tour’s transactional committee, who are currently trying to broker a peace deal with the Saudi fund. The biggest question mark surrounding the proposed deal is whether the PGA Tour will end the suspensions handed to players for making the Saudi switch.

Like many involved, Henry believes an end to the hostitlies between the two tours will only be of benefit to the professional game. He added: ““The players have the desire, the Public Investment Fund has the desire, same with the Tour in general — I don’t think there’s anyone in golf that doesn’t want to see [a unification of professional golf] happen,”