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McIlroy has softened his stance on the Saudi-funded LIV Golf in recent months, with an English outlet reporting details of a deal.
We are less than 24 hours from Scottie Scheffler putting a stamp on the 2024 Masters Tournament and already LIV Golf is stealing headlines.
Rory McIlroy, who is a Masters title away from the career grand slam, has been rumored to be in talks with LIV, according to City A.M., an English outlet focused on business and finance.
According to the report, two separate sources informed the paper that a deal is close and could be estimated at a whopping $850 million. However, McIlroy would also receive a two percent investment stake in the company.
I would be remiss if not to point out that City A.M. also stated that it was not possible to verify the claims.
Upon the uprising of the Saudi-funded rival league to the PGA Tour, McIlroy was the knight in shining armor. He vehemently opposed LIV Golf and all that it stands for.
Then June 6th happened, and the framework agreement between LIV and the PGA Tour was announced.
That left McIlroy to say he felt like a “sacrificial lamb.”
In recent months, his stance has since been softening.
“I think what LIV has done, it’s exposed the flaws in the system of what golf has… we’re all supposed to be independent contractors and we can pick and choose what tournaments we want to play. But I think what LIV and the Saudis have exposed is that you’re asking for millions of dollars to sponsor these events, and you’re not able to guarantee to the sponsors that the players are going to show up,” McIlroy said back in January.
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“I can’t believe the PGA Tour has done so well for so long,” McIlroy said.
If a deal came to fruition, this would be the largest blow yet to the PGA Tour. Jon Rahm, the 2023 Masters champion, signed with LIV Golf in December and brought Tyrrell Hatton over with him.
A number of other former stars of the PGA Tour have also switched sides, including Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith and Dustin Johnson.
But none of those players would carry with them the weight that McIlroy has.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was seen at the Masters this past weekend following McIlroy’s group. After his opening round, the four-time major winner was asked if he was aware. He replied he had not seen him.
The Northern Irishman is still currently slated to play in this week’s RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, the next Signature Event on the PGA Tour.
Kendall Capps is the Senior Editor of SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social media platforms.
