Scottish golfer Rory McIlroy on Wednesday said that Donald Trump’s victory and return to the White House could mean the end of the dispute between the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, while also saying that Elon Musk could be pivotal in any talks regarding the future of golf.
Many golfers continue to remain banned from competing in the PGA Tour, a byproduct of the split that continues to tear the sport apart and is currently being negotiated to be brought to an end. “Given what’s happened, I think that clears the way a little bit,” McIlroy told reporters after Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election. Any proposed deal hinges on the Department of Justice in the USA and its go-ahead.
Trump has in the past said that he could solve the split in golf ‘in the better part of 15 minutes’. “We’ll see,” said the 35-year-old world number three. “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?
Since 2022, five of LIV golf’s tournaments have been held at Trump’s courses. US Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau was part of the 47th President of the USA’s victory speech, wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat. Last weekend the Sun reported that a $1 billion unification deal has been agreed between Saudi Arabia and the PGA Tour where PIF (Saudi Public Investment Fund) gets an 11% stake and the chairman Yasir Al Rumayyan would take over the chairman role on the Tour as well.
