The ongoing negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have tested the patience of fans and players alike. Talks that began well before the formal announcement on June 6, 2023, have dragged on, leading to a notable wave of player frustration. While PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has faced calls for his resignation more than once, perhaps no player voiced the frustration as bluntly as Harry Higgs, who let his feelings fly on the No Laying Up podcast.
Higgs, clearly tired of vague emails hinting at potential changes without offering solid details, didn’t hold back: “If I get one more damn email about the progress that’s being made without any details, I mean unsubscribe,” Higgs quipped. He added that he just wants to be informed when there are clear decisions, like updates on field size, eligibility, or any actual developments in the deal with PIF.
While the details remain under wraps, proposed changes to the Tour are slowly surfacing. A letter from Camilo Villegas and subsequent updates indicate that, starting in 2026, the Tour is planning several major shifts. Key proposed changes include reducing field sizes for full events to 120-144 players, cutting Korn Ferry Tour card offers from 30 to 20, and introducing new measures to enhance the pace of play.
On the player side, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Adam Scott are actively involved as part of the policy board’s Transaction Committee, a six-member group overseeing negotiations with the PIF. Despite the players’ frustrations, Monahan maintains that working through such a significant deal demands privacy and deliberation, which explains the silence from top names like Woods and McIlroy.
For now, PGA Tour players like Higgs will have to remain patient as these monumental changes take shape behind closed doors—whether they like it or not.
