Rory McIlroy: Northern Irishman 'glad' of PGA player-directors meeting with Saudi's PIF

[CharlieH]

 

Rory McIlroy says he hopes a meeting between players on the PGA Tour board and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund "gets us closer to a solution" to the split in golf.

Negotiations are continuing between the PGA Tour and the PIF, which funds LIV Golf, about a potential merger.

PGA player-director Patrick Cantlay said a meeting with PIF representatives will take place on Monday.

"It should've happened months ago, so I am glad it's happening," said McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman, 34, added: "Hopefully that progresses conversations and gets us closer to a solution."

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The PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced plans for a shock merger with PIF in June, but they failed to reach an agreement by a previous deadline at the end of 2023.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan recently met with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who is also Newcastle United's chairman.

A report in Golfweek said the PGA Tour's player-directors were set to also meet Al-Rumayyan, with Jordan Spieth adding on Saturday they were being "encouraged" to meet with PIF.

Spieth and Cantlay are two of six player-directors on the PGA Tour board, along with Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson and Peter Malnati.

McIlroy resigned from the PGA Tour's Policy Board in November.

Speaking at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, Cantlay said he is planning on doing "a lot more listening than talking" in the meeting and will "have a lot more information after".

The American added that while he doubted the two parties "will get into anything substantive in the first meeting", he is "all for" any eventual deal to reunite golf that is "in the best interests of the PGA Tour membership".

 

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