McIlroy: Trump and Musk Could Help Bring Peace to Golf

Rory McIlroy has expressed his belief that Donald Trump's potential return to the White House could help bring peace between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, which remains divided. McIlroy also suggested that tech mogul Elon Musk could play a pivotal role in facilitating talks about the future of the sport.

Currently, the PGA Tour is in lengthy negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) in an effort to end the rift in men's professional golf. Many top players who moved to LIV remain suspended from the PGA, fueling tensions in the sport.

A deal initially proposed in June 2023 is still being debated, with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) expressing concerns about potential antitrust violations. McIlroy, speaking after Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, commented on the possibility of a breakthrough, suggesting that Trump could smooth the way for the deal to progress.

"Given what's happened, I think that clears the way a little bit," McIlroy told reporters, referring to Trump's electoral success.

While the DOJ operates independently from the presidential office, U.S. presidents can influence key appointments, including the U.S. attorney general, who oversees antitrust investigations.

Earlier in the week, Trump mentioned on Bill Belichick's *Let's Go* podcast that he could resolve the golf “civil war” in a short amount of time, saying it would take him "the better part of 15 minutes to get that deal done."

McIlroy, who has previously cited the DOJ as the major obstacle to the PGA-PIF deal, expressed hope that Trump, along with his ally Musk, could help resolve the deadlock. "We'll see," McIlroy added. "He might be able to. He's got Elon Musk, who I think is the smartest man in the world, beside him."

McIlroy acknowledged that resolving the conflict might seem simpler from the outside, but emphasized Trump's long-standing relationship with Saudi Arabia and his passion for golf. However, McIlroy also noted, "But I think as the president of the United States, he's probably got bigger things to focus on than golf."

Trump has publicly supported LIV Golf, praising its financial backing, and five of its tournaments have taken place at his courses since LIV's inception in June 2022.

During his election speech, Trump highlighted US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, a prominent LIV player, and invited him to join him on stage wearing a 'Make America Great Again' cap. DeChambeau's victory over McIlroy at the 2023 US Open was a major milestone for LIV, which has now seen two players—DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka—claim major titles since joining the breakaway league.

Trump also weighed in on the idea of a unified tour, stating, "I do think we should have one tour, and they should have the best players in that tour."

Recent reports suggested that a $1 billion deal had been reached, with Saudi Arabia securing an 11% stake in the PGA Tour. According to the report, PIF governor Yasir Al Rumayyan, who has played golf with Trump, could become the PGA Tour chairman. However, sources later told U.S. media that the report was premature, citing antitrust concerns as the major hurdle to the deal's approval.

McIlroy, who is a member of the PGA Tour's 'transaction committee,' is expecting a briefing from PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan following his return from Saudi Arabia. "I know Jay was in Saudi Arabia last week at the FII (Future Investment Initiative Institute) and was having some meetings," McIlroy said. "I know he's briefing the transaction committee [on Wednesday]. So maybe some news comes out of that."

McIlroy is preparing for the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship, where a victory would secure him the Race to Dubai title for the third consecutive year. Despite the ongoing golf negotiations, McIlroy has focused on improving his game, revealing that he spent three weeks in a swing studio during his break, working on his backswing and body movement patterns. "I sort of committed after the Dunhill that I wasn't going to watch my ball flight for three weeks," he said. "So I locked myself indoors in a swing studio for three weeks and just hit balls into a blank screen or net and just focused on my swing."