Rory McIlroy is optimistic that the Dunhill Links Championship might lead to progress toward resolving the division in men’s professional golf.
The event, taking place in Scotland, will feature key figures involved in the ongoing discussions to unify the sport and restitch the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
McIlroy, playing alongside his father Gerry in the tournament, will be on the course Friday with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan.
On Saturday, McIlroy will team up at St Andrews with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the head of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and South African LIV Golf player Dean Burmester.
The PIF finances the 48-player LIV Golf league, which has attracted top talent in recent years, including stars like Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Dustin Johnson.
Monahan and Al-Rumayyan will also be in the same group at Carnoustie on Thursday, marking a significant moment for the sport.
Speaking to BBC Sport Northern Ireland, McIlroy said: “There’s no better place than the home of golf to try and get everyone together and talking.
‘Change is needed’ 💬
Rory McIlroy is hopeful that progress is being made towards ending the split in men’s professional golf⛳🏌️♂️#BBCGolf pic.twitter.com/6NfnBS75CX
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) October 2, 2024
“I think it’s a great thing and good sign that Jay and Yasir are going to play together.
“And obviously you’ve got quite a big contingent over from LIV that are playing in this event.”
“I think what Johann Rupert the man who runs this event is trying to do is just bring the golf world back together a little bit… It’s certainly a step in the right direction.”
Monahan and Al-Rumayyan were central to the June 2023 framework agreement that sought to end the legal battles between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
While the initial agreement halted litigation, a finalised deal has yet to be reached, and both tours continue to operate separately.
Initially, McIlroy was a vocal critic of LIV Golf but has since shifted his stance, advocating for a resolution.
Reflecting on the current negotiations, McIlroy added: “They both want the same thing too. It’s a matter of getting all the different constituents on board.
“For the most part in golf, change is resisted because it’s such a traditional sport. But I think at this point in time, change is needed to drive the game forward.
“Maybe it’s going too slow for the people that follow golf.
“In the business world, deals of this size take time. You are talking about billions of dollars changing hands, different jurisdictions. I think we’ll know a lot more by year’s end.
