Rory McIlroy urges PGA Tour and LIV Golf to “find a compromise” for sake of the sport
McIlroy is now adamant that the PGA Tour and LIV Golf need to find a solution to work together for the “sake of the sport”.
McIlroy has called on the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to come together for the “sake of the sport” following an interview with Italian publication Golf & Turismo.
McIlroy had been particularly vocal in his criticism of the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf Tour following its emergence this summer, but the World No.1 has gradually eased his foot off the gas in recent months.
He has now got to a stage where he wants both CEOs of the PGA Tour (Jay Monahan) and LIV Golf Tour (Greg Norman) to talk for the good of the game.
McIlroy told Golf & Turismo:
“I believe there is no more time to waste… PGA Tour and LIV will have to find a compromise and speak for the sake of our sport.
“I don’t know when this can happen, certainly not tomorrow, but of course we will have to find an agreement.
“Golf is a small reality, it is not football where inside it large worlds such as Serie A, the Champions League, FIFA or UEFA coexist with each other. So, even more so, we need to stick together and find a way to ensure that in the future there are no splits like the one we are witnessing today.”
McIlroy also revealed when he next expects to see Tiger Woods back in action.
The Northern Irishman recently announced a new company called TMRW Sports with Woods.
Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton was earlier in the week confirmed as one of a number of new investors in the business.
LIV Golf recently concluded its inaugural season at its Team Championship in Miami.
Norman confirmed then that he is open for negotiations to happen with the PGA Tour, should they decide they want to speak.
The Australian said:
“There was always room – always, always, always room – and there still is room for them [the PGA Tour] to sit down and understand what we have and what this is all about.
“I quite honestly think the ball is in their court. It’s not in ours. We’ve tried. We’ve tried on numerous occasions, not just me personally but before I even came on board.”
Article originally appeared on: Golfmagic.com
Rory is starting to see the writing the wall. If LIV gets a TV contract and they will, the PGA will be in trouble. The PGA is a slow and boring product. It put 3 players in the same grouping and each player plays like they are on the last back nine of the MASTERS. Each player spends a ton of time reviewing his yardage and green books before he is ready to hit the ball. After the number ones finally hits his ball the second players repeats the same sequence as the previous player and then finally the third players goes intones routine. It’s slow and boring and it takes forever. the LIV game is fast, has an individual match and a team match for the viewer to watch and the same exists on all 18 holes. If they get a TV contract it’s good by to PGA on Thursday, Friday and Saturday except for the Majors. And on Sunday the PGA has to compete with the NFL. Goodby PGA.
I don’t think that the PGA is a slow and boring product. Baseball is slow and boring to watch, but the way they switch the video around the course, watching different players as they strike the ball, is just fine. I like watching the best players competing against each other, and seeing how they respond to the pressure of big time golf. I don’t think the PGA tournaments are broken at all, but I do understand if LIV wants to pay these golfers “life changing” amounts of money many will take it. I have no desire to watch LIV tournaments at all…sorry!
In your dreams. I’m not suggesting LIV has no audience, but it is such a departure from golf as we know and play it, that it will never overtake tournament golf in viewership. It’s a circus. Tournament golf is a gallery. The almost pure meritocracy of the Tour is what gives it tension, makes it engaging, and – especially in the majors and even quasi-majors like the Players Championship, truly exciting. LIV is taking wads of Saudi money to syphon talent from the Tour and blow up all that tradition, and for what? The Saudis have their reasons. Egos like Michelson and Norman have theirs. And all the players who left the uncompromising pressure of the tour for LIV have their$. Even though the talent has been diluted by this whole sorry enterprise, I’ll still be watching the Tour, thank you.
Don’t put much stock in what Charles Kennedy believes. PGA is here to stay. Chucky boy can’t even spell the work “Goodbye” LMFAO
If the Saudis want to play ball, they should negotiate oil fairly worth the world.
Well, that’s a big turn around for Mcilroy, he was so dead set against LIV Golf, now he states that the PGA and LIV Golf need to come together. Looking at everything, Mcilroy, Monahan and the rest of the stalwart PGA pros who have been complaining and using politics to try and squash LIV Golf are now coming to realize LIV Golf is here to stay. “If you can’t beat them, joining them” That’s exactly what happened between the PGA tour and PGA club pros back when the PGA Tour was the upstart. The PGA tried to use the killing of the reporter as a reason why LIV Golf (backed by Saudi money) should not be allowed to exist, but golf did not kill the reporter. One thing the PGA should own up to is, “how much Saudi money is involved in the PGA Tour” Don’t be hypocrites admit you just didn’t want the competition. When LIV Golf is shown on tv, people will just at the chance to watch them play, Charles said it PGA has become boring not much to see!! and for Mike, oil negotiation has nothing to do with golf, for that tell the idiot in the white house to get his head out of his butt, oops almost forgot he is the one that shut down the pipeline so we have to buy more oil from the Saudis
Well, it’s nice to see that this site censors the comment’s and does not post any opposing views.
I do not see it happening. The Saudis are willing to pay for control. The PGATOUR has no reason to change or give up control. The elevated tournaments have found challenges. Sponsors have concerns; Players have concerns. With the money headed towards TOP 70 players; how will #70-200 crack into the TOP 70?
LIV just wants to cherry pick players. It is Norman’s idea from years ago when he didn’t have time for golf; wanting 10 tournaments plus majors so he could earn PGATOUR top 30 status while success at clothing, failure at equipment, success at course design and some personal failures. Imagine this in industry; medical, manufacturing, finance, government, etc.
Can LIV Golf last without the PGA Tour and DP World Tour (the “PGA Tour” collectively) producing the quality players? Can the PGA continue to ban its players from participating in the LIV Golf without diminishing the quality of the Tour as a whole?
The fact of the matter is that LIV Golf has to draw its exciting players from the PGA Tour in order to even have its tournaments. While it is true that LIV Golf can sign up its players straight from the amateur ranks as it did with David Puig, if David Puig does not perform well during the contract period, his contract will not be renewed and his career will be over as he will be banned from the PGA Tour. And soon, no worthy amateur players will sign with LIV Golf.
The PGA Tour on other hand provides opportunities for the newcomers and repeat challengers year after year. Therefore, as for the new professional players, their charted course is with the PGA Tour. But every successful PGA Tour player will be approached by and invited to play in the LIV Golf tour. And some will decide to join the LIV Golf. Therefore, the PGA Tour will continue provide LIV Golf with a pool of players who may be willing to cross-over.
The PGA Tour’s problem is that it failed to look after the best of players’ interests. What the PGA Tour must recognize and appreciate is that every tour player – regardless of the wealth they generate – is a solo practitioner. The player makes money by playing golf and they need to make it while they can. Although they are technically their own bosses, they are not free to enjoy their time away from their job. It is a formula that is designed to burn out the players. Professional golfers’ quality of life is far below what they can demonstrate materially. They often miss their time with children which most people take for granted. What LIV Golf did for the players was that it offered some security for the players that they will be financially okay. And for some players, a few million dollars of sure money with the guaranteed quality of life will be better than the prospect of earning umpteen million dollars in the future with fame of winning the major titles.
If the PGA Tour does not recognize this predicament that every professional golfer faces, and continue to insist that the players choose either the PGA Tour or the LIV Golf, the PGA Tour will lose some of its best players to LIV Golf and the fans will not be able to watch these players from participating in the majors. What will be the Open tournament when it is not truly “open” to everyone? Surely, the fans will lose out and the winning the major will not be as esteemed. In the end, golf will suffer.
The PGA Tour should treat LIV Golf as nothing more than the “silly season” after its regularly scheduled tournaments. As long as the players play the minimum number of sanctioned tournaments in the PGA Tour, what is wrong with the players making some, or rather substantial, extra money?
Luckily for the PGA Tour, LIV golf was backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the PGA Tour used that fact to shame the heck out of the players agreeing to play in LIV Golf. What if the next LIV Golf 2.0 were sponsored by Microsoft? Would the PGA Tour have the same opposition?
I have been an avid golfer and a mediator for a long time. I think there is a win/win solution for both tours. Good on Rory for recognizing the need to compromise for the sake of golf.
First of all, Chris, Microsoft wouldn’t fund a renegade league. The would have no reason for doing it, and it would tarnish their brand. Saudis have a pretty unique situation – and whole lot more money than they know what to do with.
And I think you misunderstand LIV’s (particularly Norman’s) intent. They have no desire to be anyone’s “silly season.” They want to take over. They want the PGA Tour to be their minor league. The only thing they want to preserve from prior professional golf are the majors – not because the Saudis have any particular affection for them, but their boots on the ground – Mickelson and Norman – don’t want to void their place in history. Besides, their audience, the golf fans they hope to steal along with the stars they bribe to join, cherish the majors, so they have to accommodate them.
Make no mistake, this is a hostile takeover attempt.