Senate investigates PGA Tour-LIV Golf deal

The planned merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf may face scrutiny from Capitol Hill, according to Senator Richard Blumenthal, chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Blumenthal has raised concerns about the involvement of the Saudi government in the deal and the potential risks of a foreign government entity assuming control over an American institution. He has requested records and emails from both parties regarding the deal's structure and operation. While both parties have avoided characterizing the deal as a merger, LIV Golf and several golfers previously sued the PGA Tour for alleged antitrust violations. The US Department of Justice has also investigated possible anticompetitive practices of the PGA Tour. By combining forces, the PGA Tour and LIV Golf could become an even bigger target for antitrust regulators, who could potentially try to block or delay the deal. Blumenthal cited Saudi Arabia's human rights record as a cause for concern in his letter to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have already finalized the terms of the deal, but it remains to be seen how Capitol Hill will respond to the merger.