Rory McIlroy is at Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, to play at the Irish Open. However, questions about the current state of the negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have followed him across the pond.
McIlroy gave an interview to the Irish Golfer in which he discussed a variety of topics, including the negotiations that started in 2023. This Tuesday, September 10, it was reported that both parties will be having a meeting in New York, but the Northern Irishman said he knew nothing about it.
However, Rory McIlroy hopes that the news will not take long to emerge. This was part of what he said:
“I don’t know much about the talks that are going on. I know that there is but that’s not something that I’m a part of.”
He added:
“Yeah, I mean, I think we are all in the game of golf trying to look for a solution to all this and try to move forward. So we’ll see, yeah. I know as much as you do at this point, and I’m sure news will start to trickle out here in the next few days.”
The 2024 Irish Open will be Rory McIlroy’s first event on home soil since he played at the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush. He has won the Irish Open once in his career (2016) and has also missed the cut thrice at the event.
Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour – PIF negotiations: “A solution is hard to get to”
While in Northern Ireland, Rory McIloy also gave an interview to BBC Sport NI in which he discussed the negotiations between the PIF and the PGA Tour. The Northern Irishman stated that the entire golf world is hoping for a quick resolution to the dispute.
Rory McIlroy also stated that it is difficult to reach an agreement because the parties have different interests:
“A solution is hard to get to because there are different interests and people want different things,” McIlroy said. “There’s going to have to be compromise on both sides.”
McIlroy reiterated his hope that the meetings being held by both parties will expedite a final agreement. He said he hopes to hear news on the matter in the near future.
On other matters, the 4-time major champion said that a possible victory at the Irish Open would be very special for him, not just because he is playing on his home turf, but because he considers Royal County Down to be one of the best courses in the world.
Other information given by McIlroy is that the Irish Open will remain on his schedule for the year 2025, although he will reduce the number of tournaments he plays next season.
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Edited by Tushar Bahl
