LA Jolla, CA – A miserable day in Torrey Pines, when temperatures are barely eaten by 50 degrees, the nasty fog that most golfers force indoors. Throwing a gust of wind from the Pacific Ocean, you have a “nice” day with Link, as Rory McIlroy jokingly called it after finishing the morning proam.
But this “atmosphere” is the perfect rationale for the current state of professional golf: dark, gloomy, and relentless.
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf continue to operate independently despite continuing negotiations for tours with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the beneficiary of LIV. It appears that President Donald Trump met Commissioner Jay Monaghan and player director Adam Scott last week have made progress. But it envelops the details of that “productive” encounter and what a year or two will look like.
“I don't think you're approaching until you're confirmed,” Monaghan told reporters Wednesday.
“I'd say this: Everything is moving forward at a pace, and I think there's a general – looking at all the people involved you have, there's a general enthusiasm to get this [deal] end. “
McIlroy, on the other hand, believes that things should not be so complicated.
“From my point of view, I don't think it's complicated at all,” McIlroy said.
The four-time major champion, who once spearheaded the Crusade against Liv on the PGA Tour, believes that anyone who goes to LIV and still has status on the PGA Tour should return and play. He cited the revival of Bryson DeDanbaugh, who beat him at the US Open as someone who supports the overall product of the PGA Tour.
“I think everyone has to get through it. We're all saying, 'OK, this is the starting point, we're moving forward. We're not looking behind us. We're “I haven't seen the past. “What happened, it was a shame, but being united, the way we all come back together and move forward is the best for everyone,” McIlroy said. added.
“Are people hurting their ass or because the guy went, what's the matter, who cares? Let's move on together. Try to try and do this again and do the best thing for the game. Sho.”
Monaghan repeated this sentiment, but once again he did not provide a specific answer.
“When we talk about unity, it's the best player in the world who competes with each other,” Monaghan said.
“We'll talk about that on a future date.”
The only information Monaghan provided is that under his vision, top players compete side by side at four or more events a year. This is a reference to the current situation at four major championships.
“We all come together at major championships. It was a really good thing, but it's unsustainable on both tours,” McIlroy pushed.
“It's unsustainable.”
It's no secret that McIlroy appeared in the idea of a Global World Tour, which incorporates Liv Golf, a circuit he said he hates.
“I opposed a lot of it. I opposed 54 holes, I somehow opposed the concept of the team, but you've gotten a bit of yourself out of it and you've got the big picture And I hope we all did well for this,” McIlroy said.
“PGA Tour players had more leverage than they went on tour saying they wanted this, but at the same time they placed the tour where they had financially extended the tour, so I thought they were them. Regretting some of the decisions, they had to see that they would take money from elsewhere to try to compete. But in hindsight, all of these things are easy to do. It's hindsight and very easy to say, but I think we're approaching getting a solution.
Speaking of these alternative resources, this month marks an important anniversary. A year ago, at Pebble Beach, the PGA Tour announced it had received a $1.5 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group (SSG), a consortium of sports owners and billionaires. SSG helps you create equity programs for top players, while supporting tournament wallets and more.
But McIlroy wants an answer to that as well.
“What are we going to do with 15 billion people? What will we invest in?” McIlroy asked.
“How do you grow this thing?”
When pushed over the problem, McIlroy did not provide an answer. McIlroy resigned from the PGA Tour Policy Board in November 2023.
Meanwhile, Monaghan did not extrapolate, similar to his comments about the ongoing debate with PIF.
“I'm not in a position to share any of these details,” Monaghan said of SS.G's investment.
“What I say to you is structurally, we have put together an investment committee that includes many members of the SSG team. We will be actively looking at deals that will strengthen the PGA Tour and complement us. Work. It's enough to say it, I think there will be some news on that aspect in the coming months.”
Golf fans have been listening to that language for a long time, on multiple topics. Like McIlroy, fans want answers too, but Monaghan doesn't have them yet. Maybe that will change soon. So who knows? McIlroy is not certain.
Jack Mirco is a golf staff writer who plays SB Nation. Follow him with x @jack_milko.
