Rory McIlroy makes feelings clear about Donald Trump becoming the president, calls his $264B worth ally the “smartest man in the world“
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States, and Rory McIlroy believes this will significantly impact the PIF x LIV Golf merger. The Irish golfer made his view clear to Nuclr Golf after Trump secured enough electoral college votes to be projected by virtually all media outlets as the winner.
McIlroy went on to praise one of Trump's closest allies, Elon Musk, who has a $264 billion net worth (per Forbes), as well:
“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.”
The president may or may not have any role in the merger conversation since current President Joe Biden has not directly stepped in. But McIlroy envisions smoother sailing down the line:
“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 has hosted LIV Golf events at his courses and played in them as well.
Donald Trump said he'd speed up the merger
Donald Trump went on Tom Brady's podcast before the election and said the merger between PIF and the PGA Tour would have been done long ago if he was involved. He still has faith that it will work out soon (via Bunkered):
“I think it’ll come together (PGA Tour-LIV deal). Yeah, I could certainly help, but I could probably get it done. I would say it would take me the better part of 15 minutes to get that deal done."
The Republican politician lamented that players on LIV have more trouble getting into Majors. The president-elect also believes golf needs just one tour where the best players play:
“You have many tours, but your primary tour… Because when Scottie wins or when they win on the other tour, we have a lot of… there’s a lot of great players. I mean, beyond great. It’s really top, top players on LIV."
Now that he will be president in a few months, Trump's claims about the merger can be tested.