Rory McIlroy hopes Trump and Musk can heal golf’s civil war

Rory McIlroy has suggested Donald Trump’s return to the White House could accelerate peace talks between traditional golf tours and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. McIlroy even floated the idea of Elon Musk becoming involved in golf’s elongated merger plans.

It has long been assumed that a Trump victory in the US presidential election could have a spin-off for golf. Trump has business connections to Saudi Arabia and LIV Golf – which the PIF funds – having previously staged events for the PGA Tour.
A framework agreement announced in June of 2023 sought to bring together previously warring factions but progress has been slow. One explanation for that is the close attention being paid by the US Department of Justice to Saudi Arabia’s march into mainstream sport.
McIlroy denied recent reports completion of a deal was imminent. “Given today’s news with what has happened in America, I think that clears the way a little bit. So we’ll see,” he said. The Northern Irishman said it would be “a huge moment” if the DOJ to become more amenable to a formal agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudis.

Trump had previously claimed he could align professional golf within 15 minutes. “He might be able to,” said McIlroy. “He’s got Elon Musk, who I think is the smartest man in the world, beside him. We might be able to do something if we can get Musk involved, too.

“I think from the outside looking in, it’s probably a little less complicated than it actually is. But obviously Trump has great relationship with Saudi Arabia. He’s got a great relationship with golf. He’s a lover of golf. So, maybe. Who knows? But I think as the President of the United States again, he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf.”

Another side-effect of election matters on the opposite side of the Atlantic is for the R&A, which has steadfastly refused to return the Open to Turnberry since Trump purchased the Ayrshire resort in 2014. Turnberry’s Open wait is unlikely to end anytime soon, with Portmarnock close to being added to the pool of courses for the world’s oldest major.

McIlroy was speaking in the Middle East, where in back-to-back weeks he will look to ease over the line in the DP World Tour’s order of merit. McIlroy, who has already won that Race to Dubai title five times, will compete in Abu Dhabi this weekend before the season concludes in Dubai. He already holds a substantial lead in the points table.

“Going for my third in a row, trying to go for six overall, it’s a pretty meaningful thing to do,” said McIlroy. “Trying to get to Colin Montgomerie’s number of eight, or maybe surpass, is definitely a goal in the future. But I think right now I just have focus on trying to get that sixth one and go from there.”