Top golfer Rory McIlroy has welcomed Donald Trump’s return to the White House – claiming that the new President will help bring together the PGA and LIV golf tours.
Trump Returning As President Could Help The PGA and LIV Resolve Their Issues
Rory McIlroy is in Adu Dhabi for two events that will determine the DP World Tour’s ‘Race To Dubai’ winner and with the news reaching them that Donald Trump has won the US election, there is hope his influence can help merge the PGA and LIV tours.
The world number three has also theorized that Trump’s pal Elon Musk can play a leading role in helping this happen.
At present the US Tour is still ongoing talks with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) in a bid to mend the damage that’s seen some players enticed to the LIV Tour on mega-bucks deals – which has also led to these golf players being banned from the PGA Tour events.
Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, who was recently seen backing Trump’s White House bid wearing a ‘Make America Great Again’ cap, and Brooks Koepka are three examples of players that now play on the LIV Tour.
Trump Being Back “Clears The Way A Little Bit”, Says Rory McIlroy
The deal, that was first revealed back in June 2023, is expected to come up with some objectors from America’s Department Of Justice (DOJ) as they’ve voiced their worries over the agreement potentially breaking anti-competition rules.
However, with golf lover Donald Trump back in the White House very soon, Rory McIlroy has said he feels this “clears the way a little bit”.
This is because despite the DOJ being an independent American government, presidents can have an impact and influence major appointments – which include solicitors and the US attorney general.
Trump also went on record in his lead-up to the US presidential election that he could mend golf’s so called “civil war” – saying on the Bill Belichick Let’s Go podcast that he’d get the deal done in the “better part of 15 minutes”.
Rory McIlroy added.
“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.”
Trump has also said in the past that he likes the LIV tour and it’s “unlimited money” approach and he’s also had an added interest with five of their events being held at his golf courses.
When asked if there should be one tour – Trump replied recently with “They should have all the best players in that tour”.
