Having Unexpectedly Changed His Tune About the $3B Merger, Rory McIlroy Once Had Startling Things to Say About LIV Pioneer Yasir Al-Rumayyan

PGA Tour veteran Rory McIlroy has always been critical of LIV Golf. Everyone in the golfing silo knows that ever since the inception of the Saudi-backed League itself, the golfer has expressed disdain for the series and the players.

However, now the tide seems to have changed. In a recent update, irrespective of his attitude toward Greg Norman’s League, the player has changed his tune on the $3 billion merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf!

Rory McIlroy changes his take on the PGA Tour-LIV agreement

Recently, Rory McIlroy sat down for an interview with CNBC, discussing the current pro-golfing scenario. The player talked about the ongoing power struggle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf and his desire for a partnership with LIV Golf’s backers.

McIlroy, in the conversation, talked about the importance of PIF’s involvement in uniting the “fractured competitive landscape” in golf. Irrespective of his previous criticism of LIV Golf, the golfer now seems to be in support of PIF’s aims and reaches within the professional realm of golf.

“I would prefer if everyone sort of got back into the same boat… I sincerely hope PIF is involved,”said the 4-time major winner in his most recent sit-down with SI. It is clear that regardless of his earlier prior feelings towards LIV, all McIlroy wants now is some peace and stability in the golf world, which he believes the merger can bring.

Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time McIlroy has mentioned the PIF and his thoughts about the future of professional golf in relation to what the PIF brings to the table. A few months ago, the golfer met the chairman of the PIF, and he had some very startling revelations.

McIlroy’s first encounter with Yasir Al-Rumayyan

Back in June, after his round at the RBC Canadian Open, Rory McIlroy answered some media questions, and in reply to one of the questions, he shared insights about Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the chairman of the global golf entity formed through the merger of the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, and the Saudi Arabia PIF.

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McIlroy said in the conversation that his personal encounters with Al-Rumayyan were when he played with him in Dubai a few years ago, and earlier this year, he met Al-Rumayyan at a pro-am event in Dubai and a Formula 1 race in Austin. The golfer had described Al-Rumayyan as an avid golfer and an impressive individual with a strong business background.

After his meeting with Al-Rumayyan, McIlroy confessed to the business aspect of golf and talked about Al-Rumayyan’s keen interest in expanding the sport. “He’s a brilliant, impressive man,” the 24-time PGA Tour winner said. And now, in the current scenario, it looks like this is a statement McIlroy firmly believes in!

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