About 3,200 miles from New York City, in the small seaside town of Newcastle in Northern Ireland, Rory McIlroy couldn't help but raise some eyebrows at the meeting on the other side of the Atlantic.
PGA Tour officials, Tiger Woods and Adam Scott are reportedly scheduled to meet with representatives of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), a beneficiary of LIV Golf, in New York this week. The timing couldn't be worse, considering Wednesday marks the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As time passes, more and more evidence points to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's involvement in these atrocities. After all, 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi Arabian nationals, and Osama bin Laden himself had close family ties to the Saudi royal family through his wealthy father.
So 9/11 families were outraged at the news that the meeting was taking place in New York.
“It's strange timing for sure,” McIlroy said ahead of the Amgen Irish Open at Royal County Down.
“I don’t know much about the discussions that are currently taking place. [a meeting taking place]but that's not what I'm involved in.”
McIlroy resigned from the PGA Tour policy committee in November and then joined the trade subcommittee in May to lead negotiations between the PGA Tour and the PIF. He took part in a virtual meeting with the PIF in June after the second round of the Memorial Tournament, but was not involved in the discussions this time.
Instead, he will play in the U.S. Open this week at Royal County Down, which is in line with his vision. McIlroy has called for a unified global tour with the best players from around the world competing side by side. Seeing more top players like McIlroy competing on one of the world's best courses, Royal County Down, would make for a great show for Irish golf fans and television audiences around the world. If a deal can be struck, this reality could become a reality. At least, that's what McIlroy is hoping for.
“I think we're all trying to find solutions to all of this in the sport of golf and move forward,” McIlroy said.
“So, we'll see what happens. I know as much as you do at this point, but I expect we'll start to see news trickle in over the next few days.”
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.
