Rory McIlroy believes Donald Trump becoming US president for the second time could help “clear the way” for a peace deal in golf’s civil war.
Talks between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls LIV Golf, have been continuing since the signing of a framework agreement in June 2023.
“It’s the first that I’ve heard of it,” McIlroy said of the alleged deal.
“Given today’s news with what’s happened in America, I think that clears the way a little bit,” McIlroy added.
“But I think as the President of the United States again, he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf.”
The second term of Donald Trump as US president, according to Rory McIlroy, could “clear the way” for a peace agreement in the civil war that is golf.
Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X (Twitter) and a Trump supporter, may also get involved, according to the four-time major winner.
After a framework agreement was signed in June 2023, discussions have been ongoing between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which finances LIV Golf.
McIlroy stated in September that the biggest barriers to a deal were a 50/50 split between the players on both sides and the US Department of Justice (DoJ), which had already compelled the framework agreement to remove a non-solicitation clause.
Nonetheless, the incoming president will have the power to shape the DoJ’s priorities, and Trump maintains tight ties with Saudi Arabia and LIV Golf, hosting several of their 54-hole tournaments at Trump-owned golf facilities.
In a national newspaper over the weekend, McIlroy was asked if he would be shocked if a deal had already been finalized during a press conference held in advance of this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Regarding the purported agreement, McIlroy remarked, “It’s the first that I’ve heard of it.”. “I am aware that [PGA Tour Commissioner] Jay [Monahan] attended the Future Investment Initiative [FII] conference in Saudi Arabia last week and held several meetings there. If there was, I believe I would have heard.
Maybe there will be some news from his briefing to the transaction committee tonight. But I haven’t heard anything, as far as I know. “.”.
But according to McIlroy, Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris creates the conditions for an agreement to be reached.
McIlroy continued, “I think that clears the way a little bit given the news today with what’s happened in America.”. So, we’ll see. “.”.
In a separate interview, McIlroy was questioned about Trump’s assertion that he could reach an agreement in 15 minutes and concurred that the DoJ becoming more receptive to a deal would be “a huge moment.”.
“He could possibly do so,” McIlroy said to Sky Sports. “At his side is Elon Musk, who is, in my opinion, the smartest person on the planet. We could take action if we can also get Musk on board.
Indeed, I believe that it appears somewhat simpler from the outside. However, it’s clear that Trump and Saudi Arabia get along well. He has an excellent rapport with golf. He enjoys playing golf. Therefore, perhaps. I don’t know.
But I believe he has more important things to think about than golf now that he is once again the president of the United States. “”.
