The good thing about everyone invited to a meeting having a private plane is that a last-minute location change is no drama. Yes, it can be a hassle, but it’s not a real logistical mess. It gives you flexibility. That’s what has happened in the already famous meeting scheduled for this Monday between the player representatives on the PGA Tour and the head of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Yasir Al Rumayyan.
Initially, the anticipated meeting was to take place in Florida, specifically in Ponte Vedra Beach, the venue for THE PLAYERS, but it has finally been changed to Nassau, Bahamas. Who knows if it’s to find a more neutral setting between the parties, as it is well known that the TPC Sawgrass is home to the headquarters of the PGA Tour.
The news of the meeting’s location change was known by a Twitter user who tracks private planes with a radar. He was the one who reported that Tiger Woods’ plane and yacht have been in the Bahamas since Friday, that Al Rumayyan’s private plane arrived this Sunday, the same one he used to travel to New York on the day of the framework agreement announcement, in June 2023, and two more jets have also been spotted in the Bahamas: the one usually used by PGA Tour executives and one belonging to John Henry, one of the main people responsible for SSG. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to know that the meeting is being held there.
Specifically, as confirmed by Bob Harig, Sports Illustrated journalist, the meeting is taking place at the Albany Resort, the complex where the Hero World Challenge of Tiger Woods is held every year. In other words, it is the Californian himself who is hosting this meeting.
Rory McIlroy pointed out this Sunday at the end of his round at THE PLAYERS that it made no sense to hold a meeting of this nature without Tiger’s presence, but the reality is that his presence has not been confirmed until this afternoon. Obviously, it gives even more importance to this first contact.
Both Patrick Cantlay and Webb Simpson, two of the players present, along with the aforementioned Tiger, Jordan Spieth, Peter Malnati and Adam Scott, have pointed out in the last few hours that it is basically a courtesy meeting, something like let’s put faces to names and make a statement of intent. However, there are many voices betting that this meeting will serve to accelerate negotiations and reach an agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
