Rory McIlroy fears that men’s professional golf may never be reunited as the PGA Tour and LIV Golf continue to be apart in efforts to secure a peace deal.
LIV’s priority appears to be to trundle forward with attempts to be eligible for world ranking points rather than meet the PGA Tour halfway in negotiations – their recent move to 72-hole tournaments looks another indication that the Saudi backed tour is here for the long haul.
McIlroy feels that unification would be of benefit for the game but believes the direction that golf’s main tours have taken show that it may not happen.
“Golf is in such a good place, but at the same time, you see some of these other sports that have been fractured for so long,” he told CNBC’s CEO Council Forum.
“You look at boxing, for example, or you look at what’s happened in motor racing in the United States, with Indy and NASCAR and everything else.
“For golf in general, it would be better if there was unification. But I just think with what’s happened over the last few years, it’s going to be very difficult to be able to do that.”
McIlroy still believes that golf’s current landscape still favours the PGA Tour while LIV will need to continue to pump billions to maintain its position.
“As someone that supports the PGA Tour and supports the traditional structure of men’s professional golf, we have to realise we were trying to deal with with people that were acting in some ways irrationally, just in terms of the capital they were allocating and the money they were spending.
“It’s been four or five years, and there hasn’t been a return yet, but you know, they’re going to have to keep spending that money to even just maintain what they have right now.
“You know, a lot of these guys’ contracts are up. They’re going to ask for the same number, or even bigger numbers.
“LIV’s spent $5 or $6bn, and they’re going to have to spend another five or six just to maintain where they are.
“So if I’m looking at the world of golf, I am way more comfortable being on the PGA Tour side than on their side. But, you know, who knows what will happen?
“But as I said, I think the leadership that (new PGA TOUR CEO) Brian (Rolapp) has shown already and where he wants the PGA Tour to go, you know, I think everyone on the PGA Tour feels like we’re in a good place and trust that his guidance and leadership will position us in the in the right place.”
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