Golf

Rory McIlroy says he is involved in talks with Saudi backers of LIV Golf

McIlroy confirms he was involved in 90 minute Zoom call as part of his new role on PGA Tour’s Transaction Committee

Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photograph: Jared C Tilton/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photograph: Jared C Tilton/Getty Images
Fri May 10 2024 - 11:33

Rory McIlroy said he has been “some way” involved with discussions with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf.

McIlroy has long been one of the most vocal critics of LIV Golf, insisting in July last year that he would rather retire than play on the Saudi Arabian breakaway, but has softened his stance on the influx of money from the sovereign state’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls the LIV Golf League.

After finishing the first round at Wells Fargo three shots off the pace, tied in second place, McIlroy told reporters he has had conversations with the newly set up Transaction Committee, that the PGA Tour announced in a press release on Thursday.

“I’ve already had calls with that group, I had a really good hour and a half Zoom with those guys on Sunday, we went through a 150-page doc about the future product model and everything,” McIlroy said.

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“Yeah, I’m not on the board, but I’m in some way involved in that Transaction Committee. I don’t have a vote so I don’t, you know, I don’t have I guess a meaningful say in what happens in the future.

“But at least I can, I feel like I can be helpful on that committee, and that was sort of a compromise for I guess not getting a board seat.”

The PGA Tour announced that Joe Gorder, the chair and chief executive of Valero, an energy company in the United States, had been elected as the inaugural chairman of PGA Tour Enterprises, while Australian Adam Scott and Tiger Woods are on the board.

A statement said: “The board has established specialised committees dedicated to the organisation’s strategic priorities. This includes the formation of a Transaction Subcommittee, which has been engaging directly in negotiations with the Public Investment Fund (PIF).”

They said the Strategic Sports Group had made an investment of $1.5 billion dollars (€1.39 billion).

It comes after McIlroy said he would not replace Webb Simpson on the PGA Tour policy board after the prospect of his return reopened “old wounds”.

On the course, McIlroy trails Xander Schauffele by three shots after the opening round of the Wells Fargo at Quail Hollow in North Carolina.

Schauffele fired a seven-under-par 64, starting and finishing his day strong to take the early lead at the $20 million signature event in Charlotte, North Carolina.

McIlroy, a three-time winner of this tournament, finished an up-and-down round with a bogey at the 18th hole for a four-under 67, tied for second with Collin Morikawa and Sweden’s Alex Noren.

Shane Lowry, McIlroy’s playing partner from their recent triumph in New Orleans, struggled with an opening 75, while Séamus Power carded a one-over 71. The Waterford golfer was four under with three holes to play, but carded double-bogeys on the 16th and 18th and a bogey on the 17th to undo all his good work.

The 68-man field is playing four rounds without a cut at Quail Hollow Club in the sixth signature event of the season, which doubles as a tune-up for next week’s PGA Championship.

“I think playing a championship course is always a good thing before a Major championship,” Schauffele said.

McIlroy’s highlight was a perfectly struck 50-foot eagle putt at the seventh that gave him the solo lead at the time at five under. The rest of his day was a series of bogeys and bounce-back birdies until he failed to save par from seven feet at the 18th..

“It was good to play a solid round of golf,” McIlroy said. “Left a couple out there, I feel, but at the same time I’ve got three more days to try to build on what I’ve done today.”