Rory McIlroy lets slip plans of new meeting to discuss PGA X LIV merger happening “tonight”
The PIF x PGA Tour merger is rolling on, and Rory McIlroy has revealed that there will be a meeting tonight between the two sides. Both sides have been hard at work since summer 2023 to hammer out the details of the merger they agreed to, but progress has been hard to come by. McIlroy thinks that may change this evening.
McIlroy said during his press conference ahead of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship:
"It's the first I've heard of it. I know Jay [Monahan] was in Saudi Arabia last week at the FII and was having some meetings, but I think I would have heard if there was. I know he's briefing the transaction committee tonight. Maybe some news comes out of that."
The golfer, who formerly served on the Tour's policy board as a player director, had been asked if he knew the status of those meetings. McIlroy had no inside information other than that there was a meeting taking place.
The framework for an agreement was agreed upon almost 18 months ago. The Department of Justice has been investigating and both sides have met numerous times to try and work it all out but to no avail so far. Tonight could mark another step on the journey.
Rory McIlroy bullish over PIF merger after election
Rory McIlroy was also paying attention to the US presidential election even as an Irishman, and he believes what transpired on November 5 could bode well for the future of golf. Donald Trump was elected to return to office in January to become the 47th president of the United States.
McIlroy said afterward about how this might impact the merger:
“Given today’s news with what’s happened in America, I think that clears the way a little bit. So we’ll see. 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.”
It remains to be seen what Trump can or will do for the merger discussions, but he had himself said beforehand that he would have the negotiations done in no time.
Either way, Rory McIlroy envisions things moving along more smoothly now:
“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?”
Trump will take office in January, but the merger's discussions will likely not cease until an agreement is confirmed. That may or may not take until then.