While PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods and others are optimistic about a deal with Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund to reunify the men’s professional golf, Rory McIlroy doesn’t sound that convinced.
McIlroy said he didn’t think the PGA Tour was closer to a deal after a recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Pif Gov. Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
“I don’t think it’s ever been that close, but I don’t, and it doesn’t feel like it’s closer,” McIlroy said.
Monahan and PGA Tour players Adam Scott and Woods met with Al-Rumayyan and Al-Rumayyan and Al-Rumayyan in Washington on February 20 in Washington. The conference did not lead to an agreement with PIF, which has funded rival Liv Golf League over the past four years.
Sources told ESPN that the LIV Golf League and golf’s position in the sport’s future ecosystem remains in touch with the Saudis.
“Look, I think tango needs two,” McIlroy said. “So if one party is willing and ready and the other doesn’t, it makes it tough.”
On Tuesday, Monahan told Orlando reporters that his optimism about completing a PIF investment has not changed.
“I think everything about the three of us [Monahan, Trump, Al-Rumayyan] “I’ve said what you should say when you’re in a complicated discussion trying to unify the golf game,” Monaghan said, “It illustrates the goal. I think the meeting is a huge step. So, I looked at that very positively. ”
Monahan said another meeting held by the White House has not been arranged yet. Monahan and Scott also met with Trump on February 4 to speed up federal approval of the potential agreement.
“The dynamic he brings is that he is the leader of the free world and he has a positive interest in unifying the game,” Monaghan said. “His position is very strong, and his willingness to do so obviously changes the dynamic. I don’t think we have a rhythm, we’ll be in our position and we’re going to make a deal, but for the president.”
McIlroy said that while it’s great to have the world’s best golfer playing outside of four big tournaments each season, he doesn’t believe the PGA Tour has to reach a deal.
“I think the narrative about golf will welcome just putting all the best players together,” McIlroy said. “But I don’t think the PGA Tour needs a deal. I think the momentum is very strong. As you said, the TV is good and TGL wants to be very addictive to the whole situation. I think it’s still an ideal scenario for golf as a whole. But from a pure PGA Tour perspective, I don’t think it has to be needed.”
On Wednesday, Liv Golf Captain Bryson DeChambeau, who was champion at the U.S. Open, sounded confident that his tour would be able to survive regardless of whether the PGA Tour reached a deal with PIF.
“I continue to see Liv Golf’s growth,” DeChambeau said at a press conference in Hong Kong. “It will grow at a rate that is achieved in the coming years and we are not going anywhere.”
