Rory McIlroy believes Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election could ‘clear the way’ to a merger finally being struck between golf’s warring tours.
The PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund, who bankroll the rival LIV circuit, have been trapped in a slow-burning negotiation for the past 16 months, with the US Department of Justice cited as a major obstacle its over concerns a deal would breach antitrust laws.
With Trump poised to reassume control of the White House, and having vowed this week that he could clear broker an agreement between the parties in ‘the better part of 15 minutes’, it is feasible the stalemate will untangle itself.
McIlroy said on Wednesday: ‘Obviously given today’s news with what’s happened in America, I think that clears the way a little bit. So we’ll see.’
When asked about Trump’s 15-minute claim, 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.
Rory McIlroy believes Donald Trump’s win can ‘clear the way’ for a PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger
Trump defeated Kamala Harris in this week’s election to secure a return to the White House
‘Yeah, 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?
‘But I think as the President of the United States again, he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf.’
Trump’s links to LIV were illustrated in a surreal manner on Wednesday when he invited Bryson DeChambeau on the stage during his victory speech.
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