The PGA Tour is expected to announce that the deadline for the merger negotiations with the Saudi sovereign wealth fund is to be extended, with hopes that a deal can now be reached before the Masters in April.

When the “framework agreement” was unveiled almost seven months ago the previously warring parties expressed their confidence that they would have everything signed and sealed by December 31.

And earlier this month, Tiger Woods, a member of Tours’ policy board, insisted that they were still aiming to meet that date.

However, that was always an audacious aim with the advent of LIV Golf League – the breakaway circuits bankrolled by the Public Investment Fund - creating such bitter division in the professional male game.