Lee Trevino: Why PGA Tour is in big trouble after latest blow

It’s been a rocky start to the month for PGA Tour bosses at the Ponte Vedra Beach HQ.

As negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund bankrolling LIV Golf intensify ahead of the self-imposed December 31, the US circuit has been dealt some quite considerable setbacks.

First was the seismic news that Jon Rahm, who previously declared his “fealty” to the PGA Tour, had jumped ship to LIV in a reported £450million move, casting more doubt over a definitive agreement uniting the sport.

And the dust had barely settled on the Masters champion’s defection when it was revealed the PGA Tour had received confirmation that one of it’s long-standing major sponsors was walking away.

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Wells Fargo announced it wouldn’t be renewing its title sponsorship of the Wells Fargo Championship, which is one of the eight ‘signature events’ on the calendar.

The San Francisco-based bank has sponsored the event since its inception 20 years ago, but the change which is due to take effect in 2025 now puts the tournament at risk of being cut.

It was reported by Sports Business Journal that Wells Fargo ended the deal after being asked to hugely bump its fee for title sponsorship by the PGA Tour.

And the legendary Lee Trevino, who at 84 still cares deeply about the state of the game, thinks this breakdown in relationship is a sign of bigger problems coming to his former circuit.

The six-time major champion is worried about how the injection of money from LIV Golf’s Saudi bosses is changing the professional game.

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“We’re in trouble with this thing because we don’t own anything,” Trevino told the Palm Beach Post. “Who owns the PGA Tour? Nobody. That’s the problem with it. It’s a nonprofit organisation and nobody owns it.

“Here comes (LIV) with $600 billion in a kitty. They can buy a lot of stuff.

“I’m afraid these dominoes are lined up. The Wells Fargo fell over … it hasn’t hit the ground yet all the way, it hasn’t touched that other one yet. But if it touches the other one and then that one touches the other one, then we got a big problem.”

As crunch talks continue over a potential merger deal between the PGA Tour and PIF, Trevino will be taking part in the PNC Championship for the 26th consecutive year.

He will compete alongside his son Daniel in the 36-hole event in Orlando, while Tiger Woods is the main attraction alongside his son Charlie.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.