Rory McIlroy has become unlikely ally with Saudi Arabia in merger talks with the PGA Tour, saying he wants to “put golf back together.
” The world number 2 player is perhaps the LIV Golf League’s strongest competitor since it parted ways with his team 18 months ago.
However, after describing itself as a “sacrificial lamb” when Sawgrass headquarters announced in June, to global shock, that it had reached a “framework agreement” with its perceived enemy McIlroy admitted that it would be better for the Public Investment Fund − the Kingdom’s $600 billion (£490 billion) sovereign wealth fund would invest “positively rather than negatively” in the development of football.
This seemed to be the direction of the PGA Tour before reports from the US indicated that American billionaire investors were lining up to beat the Saudis and claim the lion’s share of the spoils for themselves.
A report this week said the Tour has recruited five investors, including Fenway Sports Group, owners of Liverpool FC, who will provide the money needed to ensure PIF premiums are replaced position.
If this happens, the Saudis will still have LIV and all its destructive capabilities.
Phil Mickelson, six-time major tournament champion and perhaps the most notable rebel captured in a raid worth more than $2 billion, is certain that new golfers will be recruited in the tournaments, Raid the other nine numbers.
McIlroy sees this brewing storm and clearly wants it to calm down, saying he doesn’t want the American Tour to cater solely to domestic investors and disrupt the sport.
“I feel like we have a fractured competitive landscape right now and I’d like to see everyone get back in the same boat.
I think it’s the best thing for golf,” the four-time major champion told CNBC.
“I hope that as we move through this process, PIF will be participants in the framework agreement.
Apparently other suitors were involved and offered their services and assistance.
But I hope that when all is said and done, I sincerely hope that PIF will come on board and we can bring the game of golf together.
” Anyone criticizing Mcilroy should know that he made comments on Monday during a press conference for the “Boston Common” team that he would lead in next year’s inaugural TGL (a tournament in the arena on simulcast, broadcast live on television and feature 24 teams) and is partly owned by FSG, with one of the main companies involved in providing the PGA Tour with financial resources necessary, which may mean the PIF deal will never happen.
However, there are fears that LIV will again float billions against PGA Tour superstars and the likes of Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Cam Smith and others will soon have other irresistible big-name companions.
TGL partners Tiger Woods with McIlroy in one company called TMRW Sports, the company is backed by the PGA Tour and considered by many to be a rival to LIV, with most of the major non-LIV stars signed up for the made-for-TV specials that will take place on Monday or Tuesday. McIlroy’s Boston Common team also includes Keegan Bradley, Tyrrell Hatton and Adam Scott.
Of course, TGL will be foreign in a golfing sense, but McIlroy is keen for newcomers not to be compared to LIV. “It is meant to be complementary, not meant to be disrespectful in any way,” he said at the launch. “Tiger and I, one of the first things we said was ‘if we’re going to do this, we’re going to have to partner in some way with the PGA Tour and make this addition.’”