Rory McIlroy is one of the golfers still on the PGA Tour, despite many of his colleagues switching to liv liv Golf, leading to great turmoil in the golf world in recent times. With the rise of liv Golf, the 32-year-old golfer, a 4-time majors champion, has continuously affirmed that the PGA Tour is the best place in the world to compete.
But in this week's interview with BBC about the deadlock between PGA Tour and live golf becoming a "stream- controlling" story in the golf world, McIlroy gave a more hoausing tone and even suggested an alternative that until now had not been a starting point for Tour officials.
Asked after competing at JP Mc Manus Pro-Am in Ireland about whether there should be a peace deal between Tour and livro, McIlroy said, I think so. I think that needs to happen.
In the interview, McIlroy noted one thing: Everything has become bustling with live golf having held two major events so far and signing some top golfers, and rumors of more players coming after the summer. liv Golf officials last week revealed that they are speeding up the launch of the tournament, which includes 14 events, in 2023.
In return, member Jay Monahan counterattacked by announcing changes to the PGA Tour schedule, raising bonuses for some events and allying more strongly with the DP World Tour to help reassure members who may be interested in the idea of leaving. However, Tour is still steadfast in saying that those who leave will not be welcomed back, and at the same time offering indefinite suspension for those who have "left their boat".
"Unfortunately, the story got messy, I wish it didn't get messy like that and in deep awareness, I thought there were steps that were overlooked that might not have made it messy like that," McIlroy said, suggesting that there was a way for liv Golf - and especially the Saudi Arabian investors - to move forward. That is to coexist within the current structure of professional golf rather than trying to break it.
McIlroy pointed out how the women's tournament, Aramco Ladies Series, sponsored by Saudi Arabia, takes place along with events on the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour.
I understand peoples reservations (with Saudi Arabias money) but at the same time, if they are serious about investing billions of dollars in golf, I think its a good thing in the end, but it has to be done properly, McIlroy said, I think if they invest, they invest in existing structures. That is what I have tried to promote in the past few months.
Although things have changed compared to when McIlroy declared live golf dead in water in February, he still believes that something good can come. But for that to happen, the two organizations need to reduce their tough stance.
"Everyone has to change, change, try to be better and hope to get to that point. But now, it's messy and everything is not good; it's dividing the game instead of pulling people together," he said, "I think people need to get a little closer."
