Rory McIlroy has never been shy speaking his mind about the PGA Tour-LIV Golf divide, and the newly minted Masters champion has made his latest feelings on the topic crystal clear
Rory McIlroy has given his latest thoughts on peace negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf(Image: CNBC)
Rory McIlroy believes the PGA Tour should be in no rush to finally seal a peace deal with LIV Golf as negotiations between the rival leagues drag on.
The newly-crowned Masters champion, who this week made waves in the business world by announcing a partnership with a $200 billion investment fund, says the PGA Tour has “momentum” on its side. He cited rising TV ratings this season as one of the reasons he feels a reunification agreement with the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV circuit is not immediately essential.
The Northern Irishman, however, remains convinced that an agreement that allows the best players from either side to compete against each other more than just at the four major championships is needed for the long-term health of the sport.
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The LIV Golf breakaway in 2022 sparked a civil war in men’s professional golf, poaching top stars from the PGA Tour, including Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. The tour responded by banning players who made the jump to LIV, and the game has remained fractured ever since.
A framework agreement was struck between the PGA Tour and LIV’s backer, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), in 2023. Both sides ceased legal action against each other and vowed to reach a deal that would heal the fractures of the sport and see the PIF invest billions of dollars in PGA Tour Enterprises.
Progress had been slow until President Donald Trump’s reelection in November 2024 renewed optimism that a deal could be done. The Trump administration has made clear it wants a deal to be done, alleviating concerns that scrutiny from the Department of Justice could stymie an agreement.
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After taking office in January, Trump was quick to summon the rival tours’ bosses to the White House for showdown talks, and it appeared a conclusion was imminent. But negotiations have cooled once again, and an agreement anytime soon seems a remote possibility.
Five-time major champion and passionate PGA Tour member McIlroy appeared on CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ on Friday to discuss his new business venture, and he was quizzed for the latest on the peace negotiations.
“I believe that a deal to bring everyone back together would ultimately be beneficial for the world of golf,” the world No. 2 said. “I think the longer that you have the best players only playing together four times a year, long-term, it’s detrimental to the game as a whole.
“But at the same time, I look at the momentum that the PGA Tour has this year. TV ratings are up again and their best players are winning and creating these storylines.
“I don’t necessarily think the PGA Tour needs to do a deal right this minute, but long-term, for the health of the professional game, the two sides at some point need to come back together.”
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McIlroy, 35, was once at the forefront of the PGA Tour’s negotiations with LIV as a member of the policy board. In the immediate aftermath of the LIV breakaway, McIlroy became the PGA Tour’s de facto spokesman, using his platform in press conferences to slam LIV and its product.
But after being caught off guard by the framework agreement announcement in May 2023, McIlroy has gradually changed his position and been more open to a deal, although he remains a staunch critic of LIV’s format and events. He resigned from the policy board in November 2023 before failing in an attempt to rejoin a few months later.
However, McIlroy was named a member of the PGA Tour’s Transaction Subcommittee in May 2024 alongside Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, meaning he remains involved in negotiations with LIV and the PIF.
