Rory McIlroy has provided an update on the LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger but demanded that there must be compromise by all sides during talks. The world No. 3 insists he is “hopeful” that a deal can be reached to end the fracture in men’s professional golf, prompted by the creation of the Saudi Arabia-funded Liv Golf tour in 2022.
It was reported earlier this week that a number of PGA Tour representatives, including golf icon Tiger Woods, are in New York for talks with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which funds LIV Golf. It comes 15 months after the PGA and DP World Tours announced a ‘framework agreement’ for a merger with PIF.
McIlroy was among the high-profile stars to voice frustrations over the lack of progress made on a deal between both parties. However, speaking ahead of the Irish Open, the 35-year-old says he is “hopeful” but called on all sides to reach a compromise.
“I think everyone in the game would love there to be one [a resolution],” McIlroy told the BBC.
“A solution is hard to get to because there are different interests and people want different things. There’s going to have to be compromise on both sides but hopefully they’re the things they’re talking about in those meetings.
“I’m hopeful and hopefully we’ll hear some good news in the foreseeable future where things start to come back together.”
The PGA Tour has been locked in talks with PIF since Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan announced a surprise framework agreement in mid-2023. But no agreement has been signed in over a year.
According to ESPN, Woods is one of a number of leading PGA figures in New York for talks with PIF this week. It is reported that there are ongoing discussions over the possibility of PIF providing £776million ($1bn) to the Tour’s new for-profit entity, PGA Tour Enterprises.
Monahan said recently: “You look at where we are right now, we’re in regular dialogue, we have the right people at the table with the right mindset.
“I see that in all these conversations on both sides, that creates optimism about the future and our ability to come together. At the same time, these conversations are complex, they’re going to take time. They have taken time and they will continue to take time.
“When I sit here today, I think the most important thing is our obligation to fans, players and partners is to focus on what we control, which we’re doing as I outlined and continue to carry this momentum forward. I’m not going to negotiate details in public or disclose details or specifics, but all I can say is that conversations continue and they’re productive.”
