At the risk of oversimplifying, if there is a successful anti-trust suit isn't it kinda' delaying the inevitable?
PIF has recognized that the PGA Tour enterprise is a worthwhile entity that it wants to own. Thus, like any other corp entity, they will either offer to buy or engage in tactics to reduce PGA Tour's ability to profitably operate. Sooner or later like any other corp takeover the deal will be done. The public can like it or not but should not be naiive to the certainty of purpose by PIF.
And the idea that PIF will be shunted to the background of influence regarding PGA Tour operations is utter nonsense. The threat is already established that PIF will have the power due to its financial position compared to anything that the PGA Tour will be able to muster. We're comparing the PGA Tour's $Million$ to PIF's $Billion$, like pea-shooters to nuclear weapons.
Once the deal is done, anything that doesn't please PIF will be reason enough to shut down the deal in favour of a new PIF owned, global golf tour - one that doesn't include current PGA Tour partners who will not be in any position to compete. This is a methodically thought out process where the financial ability of PIF to buy any entity it needs to remain the only game in town.
If the DOJ files suit, Saudi and the PIF will use FSIA (Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act) to avoid the discovery process in that case -- just as it did in the LIV/PGA Tour case. Congress should amend FSIA so that foreign governments and PIFs can't use it as a shield in commercial transactions.
At the risk of oversimplifying, if there is a successful anti-trust suit isn't it kinda' delaying the inevitable?
PIF has recognized that the PGA Tour enterprise is a worthwhile entity that it wants to own. Thus, like any other corp entity, they will either offer to buy or engage in tactics to reduce PGA Tour's ability to profitably operate. Sooner or later like any other corp takeover the deal will be done. The public can like it or not but should not be naiive to the certainty of purpose by PIF.
And the idea that PIF will be shunted to the background of influence regarding PGA Tour operations is utter nonsense. The threat is already established that PIF will have the power due to its financial position compared to anything that the PGA Tour will be able to muster. We're comparing the PGA Tour's $Million$ to PIF's $Billion$, like pea-shooters to nuclear weapons.
Once the deal is done, anything that doesn't please PIF will be reason enough to shut down the deal in favour of a new PIF owned, global golf tour - one that doesn't include current PGA Tour partners who will not be in any position to compete. This is a methodically thought out process where the financial ability of PIF to buy any entity it needs to remain the only game in town.
If the DOJ files suit, Saudi and the PIF will use FSIA (Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act) to avoid the discovery process in that case -- just as it did in the LIV/PGA Tour case. Congress should amend FSIA so that foreign governments and PIFs can't use it as a shield in commercial transactions.
they would not a immune to all legal discovery, which appears why PIF wanted to shut down the current cases outstanding.