Rory McIlroy's latest PGA Tour claim will surprise nobody
World number three Rory McIlroy has admitted he is underwhelmed by the progress the PGA Tour have made with LIV Golf's backers.
Rory McIlroy claims there are some among the PGA Tour's policy board that are unwilling to fix the problem at the top of the men's game.
McIlroy made the assertion in an interview with GOLF before the Tour Championship.
The 35-year-old has been silent on the topic of LIV Golf over the last couple of weeks.
But according to the Ulsterman, a deal between the Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia still 'needs to happen'.
Earlier in the week, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan provided an update on negotiations between the parties in his annual news conference at East Lake.
Reading between the lines, it appears little progress has been made.
Monahan did not reveal what the stumbling blocks are but he claimed 'productive talks' will continue with PIF officials.
"I thought there would have been more progress made, which is unfortunate," McIlroy told the publication.
"I think at this point, everyone's just getting bored of it, just getting tired of it.
"It's just become a bit of a cloud over golf. But a very niche cloud, y'know?
"I wish more would have been done, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of willingness from some people to try to fix it."
McIlroy pointed to the viewing figures at the U.S. Open - where he was defeated by Bryson DeChambeau - as a reason why the Tour and PIF need to strike an agreement.
"LIV have a lot of personalities, you know," he said.
"The PGA Tour, I mean, we're here trying to create the best product.
"You need villains."
The next step
McIlroy outlined to reporters what the next step should be after the first round of the Tour Championship.
"I think if it doesn't happen soon, then honestly, I think PIF and the Saudis are going to have to look at alternative options, right?
"I'd say that's the next step in all this if something doesn't get done.
"I think anyone that cares about golf, I think has to be frustrated.
"I think anyone that cares about the PGA Tour has to be frustrated because we're — we, the royal we — we're not putting forward the absolute best product that we can because — I get the argument that these guys left and that was their choice and whatever."
He continued: "I just think that it's gone on long enough. We've got to try to — I mean, I think everyone is trying to find a solution.
"It's just a solution is hard to get to.
"I go back to — even though I was on the wrong side of things, like the U.S. Open with Bryson and I, you're only really going to get that four times a year at most.
"I think the game of golf deserves having those sort of things happen more than just four times a year."
