ATLANTA — One of the big things the golf world wanted to hear from PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan on Wednesday was the Tour's position on the pending agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the beneficiary of LIV Golf.
But Monahan didn't offer any updates, and instead, in true politician fashion, dodged multiple questions on the subject — a highly impressive move, but further evidence that a deal is likely to happen soon.
That has led Rory McIlroy, who has called for unification and has World Tour dreams, to criticise the tour and its members for not making more progress this year.
“It's disappointing because I thought I'd made more progress,” McIlroy said. Dylan Dethier of Golf.com.
“I think at this point everyone is starting to get tired of it. It's casting a bit of a shadow over the golfing world, but it's a very niche shadow. I would have liked more to be done but some people don't seem very keen to address it.”
Monahan and PIF Governor Yasir Al Rumayyan set a deadline of 31 December 2023 for reaching an agreement. That deadline has apparently passed.
“We have not agreed on a deadline,” Monahan said Wednesday.
“We don't want to limit ourselves like that. We want to achieve the best and right results at the right time.”
However, the PGA Tour commissioner noted that the two sides “continue to make progress” toward an agreement.
“We're getting the right people at the table with the right mindset. I'm seeing that in all of these conversations, and it's on both sides. It creates optimism for the future and our ability to come together. But at the same time, these conversations are complicated. It's going to take time. It has taken time and it will continue to take time,” Monahan added Wednesday.
“But I'm not going to publicly negotiate the details or reveal any specifics or specifics. All I can say is that the conversations are continuing and they're productive.”
But golf remains divided between two tours, frustratingly so, and the sport would be better off if it came together, as it does each year at each of the four major tournaments, so McIlroy alluded to a close U.S. Open matchup with Dessier in the second round at Pinehurst.
“Yes, I was in the wrong position, but if you look at the numbers Bryson showed us, [DeChambeau] “And that's what happened at Pinehurst,” McIlroy said, referring to the strong television ratings NBC Sports received.
[LIV Golf] “There are a lot of personalities on the PGA Tour. We're trying to create the best on the PGA Tour. We need villains.”
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
