The governor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is supported by Saudi Arabia, is being compelled to testify by a congressional investigation into LIV Golf contracts and the fund. To prevent Yasir Al-Rumayyan from having to speak in front of the public, a lobbying firm has been hired.

LIV Golf contracts DC lobbying firm amid congressional probe. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

According to Politico, PIF has retained Akin Gump Strauss & Feld as the sovereign fund fights back against the LIV Golf contracts investigation and maintains that some of it is subject to immunity.

At a Senate subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., in June, PGA Tour Chief Operating Officer Ron Price and board member Jimmy Dunne took the oath of office, to talk about the proposed agreement between the PIF, DP World Tour, and PGA Tour.

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The deal about the LIV golf contracts, which is anticipated to bring the two formerly at odds golf factions under one commercial roof, has been publicly criticized by Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut who serves as the committee’s chairman.

According to golfweek, Akin Gump’s representative reportedly told Politico that Al-Rumayyan shouldn’t be coerced into attending any upcoming hearings.

The Tour reportedly sent a six-page document to the United States, according to earlier reports. Before the hearing, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations presented the potential deal’s structure. The main points of the agreement are as follows:

• The new entity’s board, which will be presided over by a majority of the Tour, will make decisions regarding LIV Golf’s future.
• To “help facilitate a smooth business transition” and “coordinate and manage communications” between PIF, LIV, and the PGA Tour, a “Communications Committee” will be established.
• A title sponsor for at least one event, the PIF will be “a premier corporate sponsor” of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and other international tours.

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