Rory McIlroy has called for a swift resolution to negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, warning that the Saudi-backed group could explore “alternative options” if a deal is not finalised in the near future
Rory McIlroy has grown tired of the ongoing negotiations between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour (
Image: Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy has issued a warning that LIV Golf’s backers could resort to drastic measures if the ongoing negotiations with the PGA Tour continue without any resolution in sight.
Speaking to reporters after the first round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, McIlroy expressed his growing frustration over the stalled talks between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the financial muscle behind LIV Golf.
“I think anyone that cares about golf, I think has to be frustrated,” he started. “I think anyone that cares about the PGA Tour has to be frustrated because we’re not putting forward the absolute best product that we can. I just think that it’s gone on long enough. I think everyone is trying to find a solution. It’s just a solution is hard to get to.”
To emphasise his point, McIlroy referred back to his painful defeat at Pinehurst No. 2 earlier this summer, where he lost a two-shot lead to eventual champion Bryson DeChambeau with just five holes left.
“I go back to, even though I was on the wrong side of things, like the US Open with Bryson, and you’re only really going to get that four times a year at most,” the Northern Irishman continued. “I think the game of golf deserves having those sort of things happen more than just four times a year.”
The golfing world is teetering on a major divide, McIlroy warned, speaking candidly about the ongoing rift between LIV and the PGA Tour. “I think if it doesn’t happen soon, then honestly, I think PIF and the Saudis are going to have to look at alternative options, right?” said McIlroy, hinting at a significant step that may be looming if an agreement isn’t reached soon.
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Rory McIlroy issued an ominous warning to the PGA Tour ( Getty Images)
“I’d say that’s the next step in all this if something doesn’t get done. Delving deeper into the implications of an unresolved standoff, McIlroy pointed out: “There are other tours in which they could invest… but then it keeps the game divided,” suggesting a future in which golf remains fractured unless a solution can be found.
This stark claims follow the nebulous comments from Jay Monahan, commissioner of the PGA Tour, concerning the progress in negotiations with LIV. While confirming there is no immediate deadline for reaching an agreement, Monahan expressed a guarded optimism. “When you look at where we are right now, we’re in regular dialogue,” he conveyed to the press on Wednesday. “We have the right people at the table with the right mindset. I see that in all of these conversations, and that’s both sides.
That creates optimism about the future and our ability to come together. “He acknowledged, however, the complexity of the discussions, emphasizing their intricate nature and the patience needed. “But 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.”
