Jordan Spieth: I Don't Think PIF Deal is 'Needed' After $3B SSG, PGA Tour Agreement

Count Jordan Spieth among those who believe the PGA Tour doesn't need any type of merger or agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which funds the LIV Golf league.

"I don't think it's needed," Spieth said following Wednesday's partnership between the PGA Tour and Strategic Sports Group, per Paolo Uggetti of ESPN. "The idea is that we have a strategic partner that allows the PGA Tour to go forward the way that it's operating right now without anything else, with the option of other investors."

On Wednesday, ESPN's Mark Schlabach reported the PGA Tour reached a deal with SSG that features an initial $1.5 billion investment with the potential for another $1.5 billion investment in the future for a new for-profit entity, PGA Tour Enterprises.

The PGA Tour's release regarding the partnership said there can be a co-investment from the PIF, as long as it passes a regulatory review.

"If the PIF were interested in coming in on terms that our members like and the economic terms are at or not beyond SSGs, and they feel it would be a good idea, I think that's where the discussions will start," Spieth, who is part of the PGA Tour policy board that unanimously approved the new deal, said. "I think that it should be extremely positive at this point that the ship's turning and it can only go on the right way from here. …

"We're in a place where we could be better than we've ever been as a tour."

Spieth joined the board following Rory McIlroy's resignation and serves alongside other player directors in Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Adam Scott and Webb Simpson.

While there remains the possibility of the PIF co-investing into PGA Tour Enterprises, Uggetti noted any deal likely won't come in the immediate future since it may need to pass possible regulatory scrutiny from the United States government.

McIlroy has publicly said players who left for LIV should be allowed to return to the PGA Tour without punishment, but that apparently isn't a consensus stance.

"I've asked a lot of players, I've done a lot of talking with a lot of players in the last couple months," Spieth said. "That's Rory's viewpoint. I could name some guys with the same viewpoint, I could name some guys with a totally opposite viewpoint. So it's certainly mixed on how players feel about that."

For now, PGA Tour members will have new opportunities with Wednesday's development since they can become equity holders in PGA Tour Enterprises.

They will have access to equity grants that Uggetti noted can increase based on "career accomplishments, recent achievements, future participation and services and PGA Tour membership status."