Following an extensive board meeting on Monday to deliberate on the PGA Tour’s future, Rory McIlroy stated that negotiations are moving forward behind closed doors and expressed his hope that a deal will be reached “sooner rather than later” for all parties.
After their startling initial partnership was revealed in early June, the Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia have until December 31 to come to a final agreement. However, the Tour is also considering other investment avenues outside of the PIF, and one possible sponsor that may be interested is Fenway Sports Group.
A reporter said during McIlroy’s press conference prior to the season-ending event of the DP World Tour in Dubai that the situation was currently “muddy” due to the abundance of unknowns.
McIlroy stated, “I believe that if you were in the middle of it, you would see that there is a path forward.” “You do realize that no one outside of the situation has any information? We are attempting to keep things contained and within walls because loose lips sink ships. I have no doubt that news will be shared when it is relevant.
McIlroy stated that he hopes the PIF is included in the final agreement because it could help mend a “fractured competitive landscape” at last week’s TGL team launch in Boston. Although both parties can agree to extend the deadline into 2024, he appeared to concur on Tuesday that a deal with the PIF was unlikely to be reached before the end of the year.
“Achieving a deal does not guarantee that it will materialize,” he stated. At that point, it will be up to the US government to decide whether or not the Department of Justice believes it to be the right course of action, anti-competitive, or something else. Even if a deal is completed, it’s not guaranteed.
“So yeah, we’re just going to have to wait and see. But in my opinion, the faster something gets done, the better.”
Last week McIlroy was confirmed for a fifth Harry Vardon Trophy as the European No. 1 once it became mathematically impossible for any player to catch him this week at the DP World Tour Championship.
McIlroy called his season a “7 out of 10,” with two wins, and his best-ever Ryder Cup performance. But five months on, he’s still rueing a near-miss at the U.S. Open, when he came one shot shy of winning his first major in nine years.
He remarked, “But even with that, I’m not going to let it take away from the fact that it’s been another really good year with some really solid performances.” “I believe that my game is in the best shape it has ever been in my sixteen or seventeen year career. That makes me happy, and I’ll try to end the year strong, perform well this week, reset, and get ready for 2024.
McIlroy has already confirmed that he’ll skip the PGA Tour’s 2024 lid-lifter at Kapalua, instead starting the new year with back-to-back starts in Dubai. His first PGA Tour start will be the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, now a signature event, on Feb. 1-4.
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