Rory McIlroy Realistic About PGA TOUR Merger with LIV Golf: ‘One Year, Two Years, Three Years’

Rory McIlroy is being realistic about the PGA TOUR’s merger with LIV Golf, stating he does not believe the two tours will play alongside each other anytime soon.

McIlroy believes the PGA TOUR and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) will come to terms in the near future, according to his estimates, by the end of 2024.

However, he does not see the TOUR and LIV Golf uniting, which might take some time.

Credit: Golf Magazine

He said (via Golf Magazine):

“I think by year’s end, whether the Public Investment Fund will invest in PGA Tour Enterprises…that doesn’t solve the problem of where we find ourselves in golf, the schedule and everything.”

There are a lot of details to be ironed out. How many events LIV Players can play on the PGA TOUR and vice versa, how they will be paid, how events will look in terms of scheduling, and other factors are still all undecided.

McIlroy sees it working one way:

“I think all tours are going to keep trucking along and doing their own thing for the foreseeable future and I think the best thing we can maybe hope for is a bit of crossover between them. Then maybe while that is happening over that period of time, whether it be one year, two years, three years, just trying to figure out the rest.”

He also said that players are willing to come back together, but there are a few things holding them up:

“I think there is a willingness there from all parties to try and get it to happen but you’ve got tons of lawyers in the middle of it.”

McIlroy also said recently that there are a handful of players “nobody likes” holding things up, although he did not detail who.

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Cover Image via Sports Illustrated