Wentworth Club responds to Saudi PIF rumours

The Wentworth Club has strongly refuted claims that it is about to be sold to LIV Golf’s Saudi Arabian benefactors.

Last week, Eddie Pepperell divulged on the Chipping Forecast podcast that he had been told that Saudi’s Public Investment Fund would be buying the club.

That sent golf’s rumour mill into overdrive, as Wentworth is also the base of the DP World Tour and home of its flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship.

Pepperell also suggested that another iconic club, Sunningdale, was in PIF’s sights.

• Tour pro told Saudi PIF will buy Wentworth

• Donald Trump makes huge claim about PGA Tour-LIV deal

But Wentworth bosses have moved quickly to shut down any talk of a PIF takeover.

“Wentworth Club can today confirm that these rumours are unfounded,” the Wentworth Board told Golf Monthly.

The club was bought in 2014 by the Reignwood Group and the Thai-Chinese investment company have given no indication they are planning to sell up.

“Wentworth Club is not for sale,” a spokesperson added. “There have been numerous expressions of interests in buying Wentworth post COVID, but Reignwood is committed to its position of long-term investment in the asset.”

• Tiger Woods hit with backlash over latest Sun Day Red release

• The ex-LIV golfer on the brink of a PGA Tour card

On talk of PIF interest, Wentworth said: “There has always been global interest coming directly or through agencies with expressions of interest in purchasing the Club. There has not been any direct dialogue between Wentworth Club and PIF on this topic.

“Wentworth Club is not for sale, the Reignwood Group is committed to the Club’s future and is excited about the imminent launch of the reimagined and restored East Course as well as the new state-of-the-art golf academy.”

Reignwood have invested over £20m in the Wentworth Club since buying it for £135m a decade ago.

The famous West course has been significantly upgraded, while the East course is current under renovation and a new par-3 course is also under construction.

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.