LIV Golf and PGA Tour ‘reach agreement’ after Rory McIlroy ‘helps broker $1bn-plus deal’

The long-standing feud between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf is set to finally conclude with a historic peace deal worth more than $1billion.

Since its inception in 2022, the PGA Tour has been at loggerheads with the Saudi-backed circuit, imposing bans on any player who participated in a LIV event. However, it seemed peace was imminent when the Tour announced in June 2023 that a surprise framework agreement with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia was in place.

 

The two sides have been embroiled in negotiations since then, but it appears they have finally reached an official agreement – with Rory McIlroy supposedly playing a key role. The Sun reports the PIF will invest in excess of $1billion into the PGA Tour, which will grant it an 11% stake in the American-based circuit.

The report also suggests they will secure two positions on the PGA board, including the role of chairman. There’s also a silver lining for PGA Tour players who initially declined a move to the LIV setup, as PIF will invest in a fund established to reward those who stayed loyal to the Tour, the Mirror reports.

One such individual was McIlroy, a long-time critic of the breakaway league. However, it has emerged the Northern Irishman played a pivotal role in the peace talks alongside close friend Tiger Woods.

McIlroy discussed the deal finally coming to fruition at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last month. And it was there that PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan partnered with LIV chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the Pro-Am event.

“Maybe it’s going too slow for the people that follow golf,” said McIlroy in Scotland. “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. We’re in October, so hopefully three months to get something done.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan (L) pictured with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund(Image: Getty Images)
“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 (who owns Dunhill) the man who runs this event is trying to do is just bring the golf world back together a little bit.

“If we need to be forced together in some way, he’s trying to do that. I think it will be good. It’s certainly a step in the right direction.”

While the PGA Tour players have not yet signed off on the agreement, it’s reported they are expected to support it. And after several years of bitter animosity, it appears golf’s ruling superpowers are suddenly on the verge of bringing the best in the sport back together.