Rory McIlroy doubts the rift in golf will be repaired after the “unreasonable” spending on the LIV series created such a rift in the sport.
There were hopes that the proposed merger could mend the painful schism that arose when the breakaway Saudi league poached a number of its top stars in big-money deals in 2021.
But more than two-and-a-half years after the issue was discussed, the two parties still don’t seem any closer to a solution.
“Some other sports have been divided for a long time,” McIlroy said on CNBC’s CEO Council Forum. “For example, if you look at boxing, or what’s happening in American auto racing like Indy or NASCAR, I think it would be better to have uniformity when it comes to golf in general.
“But I think it will be very difficult to achieve that given what has happened in the last few years.
“As supporters of the traditional structure of men’s professional golf, we have to recognize that they were trying to deal with people who were behaving in a way that was irrational just in terms of the capital that was allocated to them and the money that they were spending.
“It’s been four or five years and they still haven’t made a profit, but they have to keep spending that money just to maintain what they have.
“Many of their contracts are expiring. They will ask for the same number or even more. LIV has spent $5 billion or $6 billion so far and will have to spend another $5 billion or $6 billion just to maintain the status quo.”
“I’m much more comfortable on the PGA Tour side than I am on the PGA Tour side, but you never know what’s going to happen.”
LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau admits that their relationship is currently too far apart.
“I hope something big happens, but I don’t think it will happen anytime soon,” he told Fox News.
“I think there is too much desire on both sides and not enough on the other side to give.
“We are too far apart in many ways. It will take time, but I believe that ultimately the game of golf will grow internationally.”
