PGA Tour releases statement after Rory McIlroy jets in for five-hour LIV meeting

Rory McIlroy attended a five-hour meeting with the PGA Tour Policy Board on 28 June to discuss the finer details of the LIV Golf/PIF deal.

Ben Smith

29 Jun 2023

PGA Tour releases statement after Rory McIlroy jets in for five-hour LIV meeting — PGA Tour releases statement after Rory McIlroy jets in for five-hour LIV…

Rory McIlroy is not playing the Rocket Mortgage Classic on the PGA Tour this week.

But the 34-year-old Northern Irishman is in Detroit and took part in a mammoth, five-hour meeting with the PGA Tour Policy Board.

The point of the meeting, we are sure you won't be surprised to hear, was trying to hash out the details of the 'framework agreement' with the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf's backers, the Public Investment Fund.

Per SI, McIlroy was joined by Patrick Cantlay, Webb Simpson, Charley Hoffman and Peter Malnati. Tour commissioner Jay Monahan wasn't present but two senior execs who were in the meeting later provided an update on the under fire boss.

Cantlay has been accused of leading a players' revolt against the deal, according to Golfweek.

The PGA Tour released a statement in the immediate aftermath of the meeting on 28 June.

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The statement read:

"If future negotiations lead to a proposed agreement, it would need approval by the Tour's Policy Board, which includes Player Directors. In the meantime, we are all committed to the safeguards in the Framework Agreement that ensure the PGA Tour would lead and maintain control of this potential new commercial entity. We are confident that the Tour's mission will continue to focus on showcasing the game of golf while serving local communities."

Any deal that is struck faces significant problems. First it would need to be approved by the Policy Board. There is also the wider issue of the looming review by the US Department of Justice and Congress.

There are also things to consider such as European regulators because the agreement involves the DP World Tour.

We got our first look into the agreement earlier in the week when a five-page document was leaked.

GolfMagic has already taken a look at that and here are the biggest revelations.

| According to SI, Jay Monahan is expected to return to his role as PGA Tour commissioner.
Monahan stepped away from day-to-day duties two days before the U.S. Open began over a 'minor health issue'. pic.twitter.com/M0GmJBSRDa
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) June 29, 2023

McIlroy was also in the news this week when it was confirmed he had buried the hatchet with Sergio Garcia.

The pair fell out over LIV Golf and traded barbs publicly throughout 2022. Garcia labelled McIlroy immature and the Ulsterman fired back with a few daggers of his own.

In the end, McIlroy's wife Erica Stoll and Garcia's other half Angela Akins were crucial in the two becoming pals again.

"I gained a friend back," said Garcia before LIV Golf Valderrama.