Rory McIlroy has had the last laugh over PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan with Donald Trump having been ushered in to try and help end golf’s civil war.
The President of the United States met with key PGA representatives in the week, including Monahan and player director Adam Scott, as they look to strike a deal with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf project.
It’s closing in on two years since the PGA Tour and European-based DP World Tour announced a “framework agreement” with LIV Golf, but despite lengthy negotiations between the associated parties, so far a deal hasn’t been struck.
There is hope that Trump’s involvement could bring an agreement closer, with a PGA statement reading: “We asked the President to get involved for the good of the game, the good of the country, and for all the countries involved.
“We are grateful that his leadership has brought us closer to a final deal, paving the way for reunification of men’s professional golf.”
But as far as McIlroy is concerned, this is something he suggested months ago.
Commenting on the stalemate back in November, the Irishman claimed: “We’ll see. 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. I think from the outside looking in, it’s probably a little less complicated than it actually is.
“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, he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf.”
It comes after McIlroy was rejected for a spot on the PGA Tour policy board – a body who have been working on ending the split in professional golf.
McIlroy has been an outspoken critic of LIV’s, but the four-time major winner is keen for a resolution to the ongoing debacle.
The US Open announced earlier this week it will become the first of golf’s four major championships to offer LIV players an exemption for the tournament based on rankings.
It means the top player from the LIV Tour, who is not already exempt, will earn a spot in the field for the 2025 US Open.
