Keith Pelley knows the date he will stop being the leader of the DP World Tour (April 2), but he has left a lot of work ahead before that day comes. His main priority is to complete the proposed agreement between the European Circuit, the PGA Tour and the PIF (Saudi Public Investment Fund).
Pelley assured journalists this Friday at the Dubai Invitational, after the second round of the first tournament of the year on the European Tour, that he believes an agreement can be reached between the tours before Guy Kinnings takes over. That’s why Pelley pushed to stay for the next three months.
“We hope to reach a conclusion, and moving forward on that is something that will be my main goal over the next three months,” explained the 60-year-old Canadian executive. “I will definitely stay until April, and I told the PGA Tour and PIF representatives that this is my priority. I still believe it. That’s the reason we signed the framework agreement and we need to move it forward,” he stressed.
The Canadian announced earlier this week that he would return to Toronto and accept his “dream job” as president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Maple Leafs of the NHL, the Raptors of the NBA and the MLS. Toronto FC and Argonauts of the CFL.
His departure comes at a tumultuous time for the sport, with Pelley’s PGA Tour and European circuit working to expand negotiations with the Saudis to create a new for-profit entity that would combine their business interests. The Tour is also in the final stages of negotiations with private equity investor Strategic Sports Group.
Pelley acknowledged the fragility of the moment and his imminent move: “It’s never the right time for these kinds of things.” But the head of the DP World Tour anticipated that “things would heat up” with the Tour-PIF negotiations after the Ryder Cup, “and they did.” “So I’m optimistic for the next few months,” he told reporters. “I definitely won’t leave for another three months, and that’s the main reason. I had a conversation with the president of the DP World Tour and the Nominations Committee to stay and try to bring the framework to a conclusion. Unifying the game is something I believe we all want. If it happens, it would be very rewarding, especially for me,” concluded the North American.
