Golf chief apologises after holding talks with Saudis in New York on 9/11 anniversary

DP World Tour boss Guy Kinnings insists no "disrespect" was intended by talking to the Saudi Public Investment Fund in New York on the anniversary of the attacks

The boss of European golf has apologised to 9/11 families for any “upset” after holding talks with the Saudis in New York last week on the anniversary of the attacks.

DP World Tour chief Guy Kinnings is in negotiations with the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund - the owners of LIV Golf and Newcastle - to find a peace deal to end the sport’s civil war. Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group are also involved after investing in the PGA Tour.

But the timing of the latest talks on September 11 infuriated the families of victims with 9/11 Justice president Brett Eagleson calling them "completely tone deaf”. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers in 2001 were Saudi citizens although the Saudi government has always strenuously denied any involvement in the attacks.

Told the timing of the talks “doesn’t look good”, Kinnings admitted: “No, absolutely right. The point is that, unfortunately, we didn’t set the time frame and we didn’t set the agenda.

“From my perspective, I have only the absolute deepest sympathy and empathy for those families. We were called to a meeting which, I don’t think we spotted the dates, and we were trying to do the best thing for the game of golf. But there is a bigger picture for the families. I was there, I watched a number of the ceremonies, and all you feel is sympathy and empathy for the families.

“There was no intent in the meeting to show any disrespect - I don’t think it was intentional at all. The intention was to do the right thing for the sport but if anyone felt upset by that, then of course I apologise to them because I only feel deepest sympathy to those people.”

LIV Golf was launched in 2022 but a framework agreement was announced in June last year with the deadline of striking a peace deal by December. So far, no agreement has been reached. “I think everyone has agreed that setting deadlines isn’t a good thing to do,” Kinnings added.

“I was in New York last week and I left those meetings with a sense of positivity from all parties involved to try and find a solution that is good for the game. There is a long way to go. A lot of complicated stuff to be done but that has to be a good thing and we all hope that that can succeed.”

Rory McIlroy claimed earlier this week that the two biggest obstacles to any deal were the US Department of Justice and the “different interests from the players' side”.

Any deal would need to somehow compensate PGA Tour loyalists who declined to take the Saudi money - and also find a way to integrate LIV Golf events into a new calendar. The peace deal would need to be ratified by the players.

And the Ulsterman, who is no longer on the PGA Policy Board, claimed: “I'd say maybe half the players on LIV want the deal to get done; half probably don't. I'd say it's probably similar on the PGA TOUR. Because just like anything, everyone's looking out for themselves and their best interests. It would benefit some people for a deal not to get done, but it would obviously benefit some people for a deal to get done.

“I think there's different opinions amongst the players about what should happen, and I think when you have a members' run organisation, it complicates things a little bit, especially when players are having to make decisions on the business side of things. I think the tours want it to happen. The investors certainly want it to happen because they can see the benefit for themselves. It's just a very complicated set of circumstances. But from what I hear, there's optimism there, and that's good to see.”