Rory McIlroy says the key factors involved in the deal between the PGA Tour and the Saudi sponsor of the rival LIV Golf League are the US Department of Justice and the conflicting opinions of players on both sides.
The four-time major champion, who is part of the commercial committee that negotiated directly with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, said there were differing opinions among all players about the best way forward.
The Northern Irishman also noted that the US Department of Justice, which has said it will review the deal to determine whether it violates antitrust law, is another obstacle holding up negotiations.
“The Department of Justice. Maybe different interests on the players’ side,” McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. “I’d say maybe half of the players in LIV want the deal done; maybe half don’t. I’d say it’s probably the same on the PGA Tour.
“Because like anything, everybody’s looking out for themselves and their best interests. You know, it’s going to benefit some people if the deal isn’t done, but obviously it’s going to benefit other people if the deal is done.”
LIV Golf, whose lucrative contracts, lucrative purses and 54-hole events have managed to attract many golf stars, holds its first tournament in June 2022.
The PGA Tour, PIF and DP World Tour announced a framework agreement in June 2023 to put all of their commercial operations into a for-profit company. The framework agreement expires at the end of 2023, but the parties have continued to hold talks on how to finalize the details of the agreement.
McIlroy was not present when the two sides met last week in New York to continue discussing ways to unify the match, but despite the challenges he listed, he felt there was hope.
“It seems to me that the people who really make the decisions are all rowing in one direction, which is really good,” said McIlroy. “And even if they’re all rowing in the same direction, that doesn’t mean a deal can be done because it’s a very complicated set of circumstances.”
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