Rory McIlroy provides shock update on PGA Tour / PIF deal at Bay Hill
Rory McIlroy makes honest admission about PGA Tour / PIF deal: "I think it takes two to tango... I don't think it's ever felt that close."
For months, we had all been told the PGA Tour and PIF's deal was nearing some sort of completion. Maybe, possibly, it was even going to wrapped up by The Masters. But Rory McIlroy has today given one of the biggest updates yet that a deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is nowhere near completion, or even happening at all.
McIlroy, 35, was pressed on the subject of reunification of the pro game ahead of this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational where he is attempting win the event for a second time at famed Bay Hill.
The signs coming out of the PGA Tour appeared positive of a deal with PIF last month, at least if you listened to the circuit's commissioner Jay Monahan.
With avid golf fan Donald Trump once again becoming U.S. President, it sounded likely a deal was going to be completed very soon.
Trump even said it would take him the best part of "15 minutes" to get it all signed off with Saudi Arabia bosses.
But talks have now seemingly stalled.
Is a PGA Tour / PIF deal off the table?
Scroll down for McIlroy's latest comments...
While the PGA Tour is keen to get a deal done with PIF to ensure a reunification of the professional game once again, it is being reported there is now hesitation to commit over in Saudi Arabia.
McIlroy recently revealed Trump was "not a fan" of the current LIV Golf format and that he loved everything about the PGA Tour.
It remains to be seen how that particular comment went down with Saudi PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Two weeks later, McIlroy has now told reporters he's not even sure a deal with PIF is close at all.
In fact he's not sure it's ever been.
"Look, I think it takes two to tango," said McIlroy when pressed for comment about potential reunification of the game.
"So if one party is willing and ready and the other isn't, it sort of makes it tough."
When asked by a reporter "does a deal seem further away than it ever did?", McIlroy replied: "I don't think it's ever felt that close, but I don't, it doesn't feel like it's any closer."
#NEW: Rory McIlroy comments on a potential deal for pro golf: “Look, I think it takes two to tango. So if one party is willing and ready and the other isn't, it sort of makes it tough.” Also added: “I don't think it's ever felt that close, but I don't, it doesn't feel like… pic.twitter.com/Nzc3fOPIxC
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) March 5, 2025
What do you make of the current landscape of the pro game? Are you bored of all the chatter of whether a deal will ever happen? Is it time to just let LIV Golf and PGA Tour go their separate ways? Share your thoughts over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
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