Perhaps a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is imminent.
Perhaps that's why 14 LIV players will tee up this week at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews, a DP World Tour event. Or why PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monaghan and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) President Yasir Al-Rumayyan will play in the same pair at Carnoustie on Thursday as part of this pro-am.
In any case, Rory McIlroy, who has repeatedly said that an agreement between the Tour and PIF is needed to end golf's current divisiveness, echoed that sentiment again in Scotland on Wednesday.
“At this point, I think changes are needed to move the game forward,” McIlroy said. BBC Northern Ireland.
“Hopefully we can get to that point.”
McIlroy added that he hoped a solution could be found “by the end of the year,” which ironically was the original deadline set a year ago. The bomb framework agreement announced by Mr. Monaghan and Mr. Al Rumayan on June 6, 2023 included a provision for the two countries to reach a concrete agreement by December 31, 2023. But that deadline passed without an agreement. transaction. When asked about that at the Tour Championship last month, Monaghan said there was no deadline, adding, “I don't think we want to limit ourselves in that way.”
Nevertheless, McIlroy said the home of golf is the perfect place for the golf world to reunite.
“I think it's great to have Jay and Yasir playing together and it's a good sign. And obviously there's going to be quite a few players from LIV playing in this event,” McIlroy added. .
“They want the same thing. It's important to involve all the different constituencies.”
Of course, a transaction of this size involving so much capital and the U.S. government is extremely complex.
“Maybe it's too late for people who are chasing golf. In the business world, deals of this size take time. You're dealing with billions of dollars changing hands and jurisdictions changing hands. We're talking about change,” McIlroy said.
“I think we'll know more by the end of the year. We're in October, so please stay tuned. [there’s] 3 months to accomplish something. ”
Indeed, Billy Horschel and Matt Fitzpatrick opined that no major trades would be made during this event. Monaghan is Horschel's partner this week. But at least having some of the world's biggest names and the world's best players like McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka all in the same place should give golf fans hope.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
