Rory McIlroy confirms PGA Tour news: "This is big boy stuff"

Rory McIlroy confirmed PGA Tour officials will meet with representatives of LIV Golf's backers in New York today (Friday). 

McIlroy told reporters after the first round of the Memorial Tournament, where he shot a two-under 70 at Muirfield Village, that he considered making the trip to the Big Apple in person. 

But instead he will join the meeting via video. 

Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, PGA Tour Enterprises chairman Joe Gorder and player liaison Joe Ogilvie will be present. 

At the other side of the table will be LIV chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and officials from Saudi Arabia's PIF. 

McIlroy said regardless of the meeting and whether or not the PIF agree to invest in PGA Tour Enterprises, the breakaway league will continue to operate. 

"I certainly don't see in the next couple of years LIV slowing down," he said. 

"They're buying office space in New York. They have over 200 employees. 

"I don't see a world where—and I haven't heard any of those guys say that they don’t want to play over there either, right? You've got guys who are on contracts until 2028, 2029.

"Looking a few years down the line, LIV is going to continue to sort of keep going down its path. But hopefully with maybe more of a collaboration or an understanding between the tours. 

"Maybe there is some cross-pollination there where players can start to play on both. I guess that will all be talked about in the coming weeks."

McIlroy's relationship with the aforementioned Woods was said to be under strain owing to the fact the iconic golfer voted against the Northern Irishman returning to the policy board having previously walked away from the influential position in an apparent huff. 

The four-time major champion has dismissed talk the duo are in any sort of 'feud'. 

Instead, McIlroy is back in the room as part of a 'transaction subcommittee'. 

McIlroy won't have a vote on any potential deal. 

And he insisted it won't be Tiger doing all that talking in Friday's meeting. 

"That’s going to be Jay, Joe Gorder, Joe Ogilvie, John Henry," McIlroy said.  

"It’s going to be the business guys. We’re there to maybe give a perspective from a player’s point of view.

"This is a negotiation about an investment in the PGA Tour Enterprises, this is big boy stuff. And I'll certainly be doing more listening than I will be doing talking.

"I think depending on what the DOJ (the U.S. Department of Justice) allows, it might have to be a very passive investment.

"I don't know what’s in their head. I don’t know if that is something that they are willing to do. 

"We'll find out."

McIlroy's comments were made on the anniversary of the 6 June 2023 framework agreement. 

It would be an understatement to say his stance on LIV has softened since. 

"They're contracted to play 14 events, but the other 38 weeks of the year you’re free to do what you want," he added. 

"The only thing is there are so many tours and so many golf tournaments.  

"There are only a certain amount of weeks in the year. That's the complicated part. 

"Trying to figure out which tournaments go where, when do we play them, how many players, what players."

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