Rory McIlroy recently spoke about the uphill battle that is the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. The merger agreement has now been in negotiations for over a year and a half with seemingly no end in sight.
Ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, McIlroy said that the deal was hitting several stumbling blocks, one of them being the US Department of Justice. Earlier this year, the Department of Justice reportedly opened an investigation into the LIV Golf and PGA Tour merger.
The investigation was reportedly about the fear of ‘sportswashing’ of golf. According to Rory McIlroy, the Department of Justice has since been one of the bigger hindrances to the merger. Speaking via ASAP Sports, McIlroy said:
“Department of Justice. Maybe different interests from the players’ side. I’d say – it’s pretty similar. 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.”
McIlroy also stated that the PGA Tour being a member-run organization made the entire situation complicated, with several different interests at stake.
“I think the tours want it to happen. The investors certainly want it to happen because they can see the benefit for themselves. But right now, it’s DOJ and differing opinions of the players.”
The merger agreement seems to have stalled at the moment, with many players reportedly having an issue with some of the terms.
Rory McIlroy gives health update ahead of 2024 BMW PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy is one of the headliners at the 2024 BMW PGA Championship. Ahead of the Championship, he also played the 2024 BMW PGA Pro-Am alongside stars Gareth Bale and Stuart Broad.
McIlroy has also been dealing with some health issues, including a cough that he got from his daughter. He said in the same interview:
“I’m okay. I feel a bit better than I was yesterday. Poppy’s had a cough for a couple weeks. Gave it to me last week. Started feeling pretty rough Monday, Tuesday. So went to the Doctor, on a course of antibiotics and I feel, energy-wise, I feel better.”
McIlroy is coming off a loss to Rasmus Hojgaard in his home tournament, the 2024 Irish Open. However, the Northern Irishman is looking to get back to winning ways again.
“I think there may be a misconception that it hit me harder than it maybe did. You know, I didn’t really feel like I necessarily lost the tournament. I felt like Rasmus went out and won it. Shot 31 on the back nine.”
Aside from Rory McIlroy, the BMW PGA Championship will be headlined by the likes of Shane Lowry, Billy Horschel, and Tommy Fleetwood.
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Edited by Prathik BR
