Rory McIlroy said that Donald Trump is "not a fan" of the LIV Golf format and believes the President is "on the PGA Tour's side" in an attempt to unify the men's game. (More Sports News)
♏Speaking before the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, the Northern Irishman said Trump had told him that he did not like LIV's 54-hole format.
♋PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott met with Trump last week as efforts continue to strike a deal between the US-based circuit, the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which funds LIV Golf.
💝Talks have been ongoing since the signing of a framework agreement back in June 2023, with the PGA Tour aiming to heal the split in world golf by settling a deal with the PIF.
🥂McIlroy played a round with Trump ahead of his inauguration in January, with the four-time major champion saying that Trump can help make a difference in ending the conflict.
𝓰"The President, he can do a lot of things," he said. "He has direct access to Yasir [Al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF]'s boss [Mohammed bin Salman]. Not many people have that.
ℱ"Not many people can say, 'I want you to get this deal done and, by the way, I'm speaking to your boss, I'm going to tell him the same thing'.
𝄹"He [Trump] can be influential. I saw it when I was playing with Sheikh Hamdan of Abu Dhabi [on] the day [Trump] got elected in November.
♛"I don't think people appreciate how much respect he has [in the Middle East]. Whenever he says something, they listen, and I think that's a big thing."
♈LIV Golf started in 2022 and, lured by huge signing on fees and prize funds, several top players moved from the PGA Tour circuit, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia.
ౠPlayers competing in the LIV league have been banned from competing on the PGA Tour, although the USGA and R&A have recently announced direct pathways for golfers from the Saudi-backed circuit to qualify for majors.
✱McIlroy has been a staunch opponent of LIV Golf in recent years but believes it is time for golf to unify.
๊"Whether you stayed on the PGA Tour or left, we have all benefited from this," the world number three said.
🐬"I've been on the record saying this a lot. We're playing for a 20 million dollar prize fund this week [and] that would never have happened if LIV hadn't come around.
ꦍ"I think everyone's just got to get over it, and we all have to say 'okay, this is the starting point, and we will move forward'. We don't look to the past.
⛄"Whatever's happened has happened. How we all come back together and move forward, that's the best thing for everyone."
