Rory McIlroy believes that Donald Trump's presidency could actually clear the way for a golf peace deal.
Talks between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls LIV Golf, have been ongoing since the signing of a framework agreement in June 2023.
A split among the golfers and the US Department of Justice represented the biggest obstacles for the deal to be successful, and with the DOJ having already forced a non-solicitation clause to be removed from the framework agreement.
However, McIlroy believes that Trumps influence and his good relationship with Saudi Arabia, could be the key to getting a deal over the line.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, McIlroy was asked if he would be surprised if a deal had already been completed.
“Yeah, I would, but then obviously given today’s news with what’s happened in America, I think that clears the way a little bit. So we’ll see.”
"It's the first I've heard of it. I know Jay was in Saudi Arabia last week at the FII and was having some meetings.
"He's briefing the transaction committee tonight, maybe some news comes out of that."
Rory McIlroy says there is no deal he knows of between PIF and PGA Tour pic.twitter.com/z4ayWIPnur
— Golf Digest ME (@GolfDigestME) November 6, 2024
In a separate interview with Sky Sports, the four-time Major winner was asked about Trump's claims that he could get a deal sorted in a matter of minutes.
“He might be able to. He’s got Elon Musk, who I think is the smartest man in the world, beside him. We might be able to do something if we can get Musk involved, too.
“Yeah, I think from the outside looking in, it’s probably a little less complicated 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 the President of the United States again, he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf.”
Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire who bought the popular social media platform Twitter and turned it into 'X' is a personal friend and public supporter of Trump.
Undoubtedly a very powerful man, McIlroy thinks he could be the difference in getting this deal done.
