McIlroy: Trump Presidency Could Push PGA Tour/Saudi PIF Deal to Completion

Several people involved in the negotiations between PGA Tour Enterprises and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have said that a major hurdle for the deal, which was agreed upon nearly a year and a half ago, to close was acquiring approval from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Now with a second term of Donald Trump as president beginning in January, Rory McIlroy – who is a part of the negotiations – believes that could help pave the way for the deal to be completed.

McIlroy said this morning in Abu Dhabi, where he’s playing in a DP World Tour event:

“Given today’s news with what’s happened in America, I think that clears the way a little bit. I think, from the outside looking in, it’s probably a little less complication than it actually is. But obviously, Trump has a great relationship with Saudi Arabia. He’s got a great relationship with golf. He’s a lover of golf. So, maybe. Who knows? But I think as President of the United States again, he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf.”

“He might be able to do something if we get Musk involved too” 💬

Rory McIlroy discusses how Donald Trump’s presidency could impact the LIV/PGA deal 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Pw1YLHY6tg

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 6, 2024

As part of a media blitz over the past week, Trump appeared on the “Let’s Go!” podcast with Jim Gray and Bill Belichick. While he didn’t go into details, he said that he could help the sides reach a deal within “15 minutes.”

There were reports out of the U.K. that a deal was imminent and set to be announced, but McIlroy said those rumors were unfounded.

Rory McIlroy addresses the report that he and Tiger Woods helped broker a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV:

“It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

“I think I would have heard if there was.”@GolfDigestME pic.twitter.com/mc5DCMQeTv

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) November 6, 2024

McIlroy also said that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan was in Saudi Arabia last week, and the two sides are meeting this evening.

Cover Image via The Irish Times