Rory McIlroy 'concerned' PGA Tour has blown PIF deal after Jimmy Dunne exit

"It's concerning" Rory McIlroy expresses doubt over the PGA Tour, PIF merger following Jimmy Dunne's resignation on the eve of the US PGA.

Andy Roberts

15 May 2024

Rory McIlroy has cast serious doubt over the PGA Tour's ongoing framework agreement with the Saudi Publc Investment Fund (PIF) following Jimmy Dunne's shock resignation from the board on the eve of this week's US PGA.

Dunne is not only a close ally of McIlroy's but he was also a prime architect in the PIF deal that was announced to the world last June.

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The former high-profile PGA Tour executive wrote a letter to the circuit's policy board on Monday confirming his decision to walk away was 'effective immediately'.

Dunne said 'no meaningful progress' had been made between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to find an agreement to end golf's 'civil war'.

Here’s Jimmy Dunne’s resignation letter from the PGA Tour board.

Jimmy negotiated the Framework Agreement with the Saudi PIF. Then the players reacted and took the majority on the board. Dunne been completely shut off from negotiations. Also very close with Rory McIlroy. pic.twitter.com/OGQfXDGynz
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) May 13, 2024

When asked to pass comment on Dunne's resignation, McIlroy confirmed 'it's a huge loss for the PGA Tour'.

McIlroy, who was rejected a return to the policy board earlier this month by Tiger Woods and co, admits his confidence in a merger between the PGA Tour and PIF is now at an all-time low.

The World No.2 revealed last week why he was not allowed back on the PGA Tour policy board.

Despite not being allowed back on to the policy board, McIlroy does remain a member of the transaction subcommittee, which will still play a key role in navigating the ongoing merger negotiations between the PGA Tour and PIF.

McIlroy said of Dunne's exit:

"Yeah, honestly, I think it's a huge loss for the PGA Tour, if they are trying to get this deal done with the PIF and trying to unify the game. Jimmy was basically "the" relationship, the sort of conduit between the PGA Tour and PIF. It's been really unfortunate that he has not been involved for the last few months, and I think part of the reason that everything is stalling at the minute is because of that. So it is, it's really, really disappointing, and you know, I think the Tour is in a worse place because of it. We'll see. We'll see where it goes from here and we'll see what happens. But you know, I would say my confidence level on something getting done before last week was, you know, as low as it had been and then with this news of Jimmy resigning and knowing the relationship he has with the other side, and how much warmth there is from the other side, it's concerning."

McIlroy lines up at this week's US PGA off the back of two straight wins on the PGA Tour after victories at the Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry and a record fourth W at the Wells Fargo Championship.

News also emerged this week that he has 'filed for divorce' with his wife Erica Stoll.

The Northern Irishman's team specifically asked the media to not ask any questions about his private life during his press conference.

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