Rory McIlroy believes men’s professional golf must abandon at least some of its “traditions” if a peace deal with the Saudis is to be reached to propel the sport into a new era of prosperity.
McIlroy plays in the Dunhill Links – the glorified pro-am in Fife and Angus which starts on Thursday – and as Telegraph sport revealed earlier this week, as did the PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan And Yasir Al Rumayyanthe governor of the Public Investment Fund which finances the separatist LIV Golf Series.
Both men are actually in the same fourball at Carnoustie for the first round, a scenario unimaginable when LIV was created three years ago and one that many in the game believe could be a symbolic moment in this context. sporting civil warwhile negotiations still seem to be deadlocked.
And with the general director of DP World Tour Guy Kinnings also present, it will be the first time that the trio will be exposed to the public in the same week and in the same place since the beginning of the saga.
McIlroy, who plays with his father Gerry in the $5 million event, welcomed the three-headed coming together and believes it is a positive step. But while the world number 3 is optimistic enough to be certain that good news will arrive before Christmas, he also believes that golf must change some of what is dear to it and evolve with the times to ensure its success.
“You know, there’s no better place than the home of golf to get everyone together and chat,” McIlroy told BBC Northern Ireland after his practice session at the Old Course at St Andrews, which is a host course with Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
“It’s a good thing and a good sign that Jay and Yasir are both here and playing together. This is a step in the right direction. Time will tell if things go in the direction I and many people want. We all understand that it’s not easy and, you know, a lot of the time in golf you resist change because it’s a very traditional sport. But at this point a change is needed to move the game forward and I hope we can make it happen.
Asked when news of a deal might be announced, he said: “Definitely before the end of the year.” Maybe it’s going too slowly for people who follow golf. But I think in the business world, deals of this magnitude take time. You know, you’re talking about billions of dollars changing hands, from different jurisdictions in the Middle East, the United States and Europe.
McIlroy’s confidence is at odds with that of other insiders who don’t see the parties compromising so soon, particularly the PGA Tour players who essentially run Monahan’s board. And if no agreement is reached in the coming months, there is speculation that the DP world tour could be interested in leaving the “strategic alliance” it has with the PGA Tour and, with the Saudi billions, undertake the construction of a world tour capable of rivaling the American circuit.
With amateurs playing alongside the pros until the final round, it’s sometimes hard to take Dunhill seriously, but with 14 LIV players in this week’s field, including names such as Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Tyrrell Hatton, Talor Gooch and Patrick Reed. , this could be a glimpse of a future in which the best compete – regardless of tour – in tournaments other than the majors.
