Rory McIlroy will make his first public comments on the LIV/PGA merger when he address the media today after the PRO/AM round at the Canadian Open. It's believed the Rory McIlroy press conference will begin at 2pm Irish time.
Background on Rory McIlroy press conference
Thoughts immediately turned to Rory McIlroy in the aftermath of the announcement that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf were making peace yesterday.
McIlroy had spent much mental energy and 'personal brand capital' over the past 12 months defending the PGA Tour against the advances of LIV. He became the sport's de facto commissioner, and arguably saved the PGA Tour. No other high-profile PGA player spoke as articulately and passionately about the merits of their tour as many excellent and not-so excellent players opted to take a Saudi paycheque.
For stretches, this seemed to galvanise his game. Think of his big win over Greg Norman (ironically at last year's Canadian Open), or the duel with Patrick Reed in Dubai in January. But his collapse at Augusta in April was a sign of the massive psychological toll this was all taking.
And yet McIlroy learned of yesterday's seismic news like everyone else on the PGA Tour (and in the world): secondhand.
We can only imagine the sense of betrayal that McIlroy is feeling today. The staggering cynicism of the PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan to negotiate with the Saudis after months and months of back-biting and human rights complaints is beyond anything we've ever seen in sport. It's hard to know how he can look McIlroy in the eye, or keep his job.
Interestingly, however, McIlroy essentially called for this exact same arrangement last July.
Rory McIlroy called for LIV/PGA merger
At the height of the LIV/PGA wars back last summer, McIlroy spoke to reporters after playing the JP McManus Pro Am. McIlroy made it patently clear that while he hated the disruption that Liv had caused, that he'd be happy to have the Saudis invest in the game.
"I think that needs to happen. Look, there's so much chat about where the money's coming from and Saudi and everything else, look they sponsor so many other things and they're all over sport.
"Aramco are big sponsors of Formula One, the Aramco Ladies Series in golf, which has actually been really good for the Ladies in terms of big prize funds and so on, so I understand people's reservations with everything.
"But at the same time, if these people are serious about investing billions of dollars into golf, I think ultimately that's a good thing.
"But it has to be done the right way and I think if they were to invest, having it be invested inside the existing structures.
"And I think that's the thing I have tried to advocate for the last few months, I think at this point if people are wanting to spend that much money into golf that's wonderful, I just wish that we could have spent that much money within the structure that has existed for many decades in golf instead of being a big disruptor.
"But at the end of the day, as I said it will sort itself out and everyone has to pivot and change and try to adapt and be better, and hopefully we get to that stage.
"But right now it's sort of messy and all the narrative isn't good, it's splitting the game instead of everyone coming together and I think everyone has to try and come together a little bit more."
For all of the sportswashing claims, it's clear McIlroy's problem with the Saudis is the LIV model. Once the details are ironed out, and emotions quell, McIlroy will probably be a fan of this move.
McIlroy is set to address the media today after his pro-am round at the Canadian Open.e. That Rory McIlroy press conference should be box office.
