Golf chief on talks with Saudi PIF on 9/11: "I don't think we spotted the dates"

European Tour Group chief executive Guy Kinnings has apologised to the 9/11 families after conducting talks with PGA Tour and Saudi officials in New York on the 23rd anniversary of the terror attacks. 

Kinnings, along with PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, met in the Big Apple last week to discuss an armistice in the elite men's game. 

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi PIF (which banksrolls LIV) entered into a 'framework agreement' last June but so far no deal has come to pass. 

Rory McIlroy claimed before the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth that officials from each tour are all rowing in the same direction.  

But there are two clear stumbling blocks: scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice and the selfish actions of players from each tour. 

"Everyone's looking out for themselves and their best interests," McIlroy told reporters in Surrey. 

McIlroy is part of a 'transaction subcommittee', along with Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, that is negotiating directly with the Saudis. 

He was not involved in the aforementioned New York meeting, which was met with widespread criticism from 9/11 Families United. 

"It is disgusting, unacceptable, and incredibly painful that the Tour and Woods would do this—especially now," said 9/11 Justice president Terry Eagleson.

For his part, McIlroy described the timing of the meeting as 'peculiar'. 

Now Kinnings has acknowledged it did not look great.

He apologised for any 'upset caused'. 

"From my perspective, I have only the absolute deepest sympathy and empathy for those families," Kinnings told Mirror Sport.  

"We were called to a meeting which, I don't think we spotted the dates, and we were trying to do the best thing for the game of golf. 

"But there is a bigger picture for the families. I was there, I watched a number of the ceremonies, and all you feel is sympathy and empathy for the families.

"There was no intent in the meeting to show any disrespect - I don't think it was intentional at all. 

"The intention was to do the right thing for the sport but if anyone felt upset by that, then of course I apologise to them because I only feel deepest sympathy to those people."

In terms of striking a deal, Kinnings said he left the meeting in a positive mood. 

"There is a long way to go," he said.  

"[There is] a lot of complicated stuff to be done but that has to be a good thing and we all hope that that can succeed."

Kinnings, like PGA Tour boss Monahan, also insisted that 'setting deadlines' to conclude negotiations wasn't the right thing to do.

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