The PGA Tour and LIV Golf are planning a merger with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) to create a new for-profit entity called PGA Tour Enterprises. Unfortunately, talks between the parties have stalled. Their original deadline for an agreement has been pushed back, per Josh Carpenter of the Sports Business Journal. Tensions are rising with the spring Masters tournament coming up.

The PGA Tour pushes back the deadline for a new merger agreement 

One reason for the merger stall is the issue of private equity money entering the situation, CBS Sports explains.

Private firms have reportedly offered bids to the leagues that would out-due the PIF. Thus, Saudi Arabia's PIF governor reportedly felt like LIV Golf was no longer at the center of the conversation.

However, LIV signed the third-ranked golfer in the world, Jon Rahm to its league in December. The move is believed to be a tactic to reinforce the PGA Tour's aspiration to merge as well as reassure the PIF.

Nevertheless, the PGA Tour is still interested in moving forward with the merger. Tiger Woods, player director on the PGA Tour policy board, provided a statement on the league's merger effort amid the stall:

“I am confident a deal will get done in some way…all sides understand we're working together,” Woods said at the 2023 Hero World Challenge. “Everyone's working right now with no animosity. We're trying to work and get a deal done for the Tour and all parties involved.”

Of course, golf competitions are still ongoing amid the merger talks. Hopefully, the parties can get a deal done by the 2023 Masters tournament in April.