Rory McIlroy UNSURE about timeline regarding PGA Tour-PIF deal after recent stalled talks

4-time major champion Rory McIlroy is unsure of how close the PGA Tour and PIF actually are to getting the merger deal finalized.

Rory McIlroy UNSURE about timeline regarding PGA Tour-PIF deal after recent stalled talks

Rory McIlroy (Image via Imago)

In the past few days, the golf merger deal between the PGA Tour and the PIF have once again become the talking point in golf. A few days ago, the talks between the two parties did not go as well as many had thought. Rory McIlroy is now unsure when this merger deal will be finalized.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan shocked the golfing world in June 2023 when they sat down together and announced a merger deal. Since then, the Tour and the PIF have been looking for ways to finalize the deal.

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Recently, Monahan along with PGA Tour player-directors Adam Scott and Tiger Woods, traveled to the White House in Washington D.C. to meet Donald Trump. The trio would seek help from the US President to get this deal done.

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After a “productive” round of talks, the second meeting did not go as planned. A few days later, Trump would jokingly claim that the PGA Tour-PIF deal talks is way more complicated than the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

McIlroy is now unsure when this merger deal will go through. Speaking at the Arnold Palmer Invitational press conference on Wednesday, the 4-time major champion claimed he does not feel that a deal was closer to reunify the game of golf.

Look, I think it takes two to tango. So if one party is willing and ready and the other isn’t, it sort of makes it tough… I don’t think it’s ever felt that close, but I don’t, it doesn’t feel like it’s any closer.

Rory McIlroy said in the Arnold Palmer Invitational press conference

One of the major aspects of this deal is the reunification of the sport of golf. With the establishment of LIV Golf, the sport has been left divided. A merger deal between the PGA Tour-PIF could see the two tours reunite and play on more regular basis again under one tour.

Rory McIlroy claims PGA Tour does not need a deal at the moment

With the merger deal remaining on a standstill, Rory McIlroy proceeded to drop a huge claim during the Arnold Palmer Invitational press conference on Wednesday. The 35-year-old claimed that the PGA Tour does not need a deal at the moment.

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy (Image via Imago)

Compared to last year, the PGA Tour TV ratings have increased a little bit. Apart from that, the TGL league of his and Tiger Woods has also made a positive impact on golf fans. As a result of this, he believes that the tour does not need a deal.

I think the narrative around golf, I wouldn’t say needs a deal, I think the narrative around golf would welcome a deal in terms of just having all the best players together again. But I don’t think the PGA Tour needs a deal. I think the momentum is pretty strong. TV’s been good, TGL’s been hopefully pretty additive to the overall situation.

Rory McIlroy said in the Arnold Palmer Invitational press conference

McIlroy did admit that a deal would be ideal for golf. However, he again claimed that from a PGA Tour perspective, a deal is not needed.

Surprisingly, last year, McIlroy got into a disagreement regarding this topic with Jordan Spieth. After the $3 billion investment by the Strategic Sports Group (SSG), Spieth claimed that the tour did not need the PIF any more. McIlroy would later fire back at this and expressed that this comment could harm the negotiations between the Tour and the PIF.

The PGA Tour will turn its attention to the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week before focusing on another signature event, The Players Championship, next week. As for PIF-funded LIV Golf, players will play in Hong Kong this week before traveling to Singapore for the 4th event of their 2025 season.