Rory McIlroy is OVER PGA Tour, PIF Negotiations: ‘It’s Gone on Long Enough’

On the public front, all was quiet on negotiations between PGA Tour Enterprises and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), but some “non-update updates” from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan over the past couple of weeks brought the 15-month-old framework agreement back into the forefront.

Earlier this week, Monahan said that no deadline would be set on reaching a deal between the sides after the original deadline of Dec. 31, 2023, came and went.

Monahan said:

“All I can say is that conversations continue, and they’re productive.”

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On Thursday, Rory McIlroy, who is not a member of the PGA Tour Enterprises board but is on the transaction committee to finalize a deal, echoed the frustrations of many in the men’s pro golf world:

“I think anyone that cares about golf, I think has to be frustrated. I think anyone that cares about the PGA Tour has to be frustrated because we we’re not putting forward the absolute best product that we can. I just think that it’s gone on long enough. I think everyone is trying to find a solution. It’s just a solution is hard to get to.”

Jay Monahan says this morning that the PGA TOUR has "no deadline" to come to terms with the PIF, despite announcing two previous deadlines that came and went.

What kind of progress is this? There are more questions now than when this "merger" was announced.

— Golficity (@Golficity) August 28, 2024

While he didn’t place a timeline on things either, he said that negotiations are unlikely to continue indefinitely.

McIlroy said:

“I think if it doesn’t happen soon, then honestly, I think PIF and the Saudis are going to have to look at alternative options, right? I’d say that’s the next step in all this if something doesn’t get done.”

Earlier this month, Monahan said that there would be no LIV Golf involvement in the PGA Tour in 2025, saying it was more likely to be a 2026-27 thing even if a deal was agreed to fairly soon.

Cover IMage via Daily Express