The tide appears to be changing – again.
Three weeks ago at Torrey Pines' Genesis Invitational, PGA Tour Commissioners Jay Monahan and Tiger Woods expressed optimism about negotiating the tour with Liv Golf beneficiary, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
They said it felt like the deal was imminent and the golf world seemed to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Woods declared on television that the tour was “in a very positive place right now.” He pointed out that “things will soon heal,” adding that a solution could come as early as this year.
But the tone has changed dramatically since then, especially after a February 20 meeting that includes Monaghan, Woods, fellow Tour Policy Committee member Adam Scott, PIF Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and US President Donald Trump. Eamon Lynch Golfweek Reported, “Ram rings from informed sources suggest that [the recent] The White House meeting wasn't as much as tour executives had hoped for. ”
Rory McIlroy's comments at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Wednesday reflect that concept.
“I think it's going to cost two for tango,” McIlroy said when asked about his golf situation.
“So if one party is willing to prepare and the other party isn't, it becomes kind of difficult.”
He then said that the PGA Tour does not require a deal with PIF.
“Over the past few weeks, this landscape may have looked a little different than it is now,” McIlroy added.
“I think there's still a deal. I think that's still an ideal scenario for golf as a whole. But from a pure PGA Tour perspective, I don't think it's necessarily necessary.”
McIlroy's comments on Wednesday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational are totally out of what he felt from what he felt 13 months ago at AT&T Pebble Beach Proam in 2024.
At that point, the tour announced it would receive a $1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group (SSG), a sports owner and billionaire businessman who will invest and consult with them in upcoming PGA tours. This led Jordan Spieth to say that there is no need for a deal between the tour and the PIF.
“The idea is that the PGA Tour has a strategic partner that allows it to go as if it were operating without any other investment options,” Spieth said on January 31, 2024.
“If we're interested in coming on the condition that our members like and that they feel it's a good idea, whether or not their financial conditions exceed SSGS, then that's what we think the debate begins. I think it's very positive that the ship is spinning and we can only get from here in the right way.”
After Spieth made these comments, McIlroy called the Americans and the two had a 90-minute conversation.
Earlier that week, McIlroy advocated for unity, strongly opposed Spieth, who replaced McIlroy with policy committee McIlroy just a few months ago. Therefore, a long discussion.
“I'm a former investor who thought I would be closing this deal in July and I've heard board members say we don't really need them. McIlroy spoke about his call with Spieth in February 2024.
“They are still sitting there for hundreds of millions of dollars, if not hundreds of millions of dollars. [our] Sports. And I know what [Spieth] I was saying it, but I absolutely know what he was saying, what he was trying to say. But if I was a PIF, would I think it wouldn't have made me very happy if I had heard that I was coming from here the day after I made this SSG trade? ”
Thirteen months later, McIlroy changes his song and feels as pessimistic as ever about the pending deal between Saudi Arabia and the PGA Tour.
“I don't think I've ever felt it was coming, but I'm not. I don't feel it's coming,” McIlroy admitted.
“I gave a lot of thought about it a few years ago, but now it's not that much.”
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer who plays SB Nation. Follow him with x @jack_milko.
