A sombre-looking Rory McIlroy has played down the reports circulating that a $1.3 billion deal is in its final stages between LIV, PIF and the PGA Tour.

In his first press conference since the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, where he played alongside H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Jay Monahan, McIlroy spoke to the media on the eve of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the DP World Tour.

“It’s the first I’ve heard of it,” said the World Number Three. “I know Jay (Monahan) was in Saudi Arabia last week at the FII and was having some meetings.

“But I know he (Jay) is briefing the transaction committee tonight, so maybe some news comes out of that.”

As Rory suggested, it is known that H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund & Chairman of FII Institute, did meet with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan last week at the Aramco Team Series Riyadh event on the Ladies European Tour, a Golf Saudi run tournament.

If a deal has been brokered and Rory didn’t know about it, he did say he would be surprised if it was secured having there being so many extra parts to tidy up, especially with the current Donald Trump v Kamala Harris 2024 Presidential election going on stateside being one moving part.

“But then given obviously today’s news in America, I think that clears the way a little bit. So, we will see.”

Then when questioned further on the newly re-elected U.S. President Donald Trump, having quoted himself, in saying that he would be able to fix the LIV / PGA TOUR deal in 15 minutes, McIlroy responded.

“He might be able to,” McIlroy said. “He’s got Elon Musk, who I think is the smartest man in the world, beside him. We might be able to do something if we can get Musk involved, too.

“I think from the outside looking in, it’s probably a little less complicated than it actually is.

“But obviously Trump has a great relationship with Saudi Arabia. He’s got a great relationship with golf. He’s a lover of golf. So, maybe. Who knows?

“But I think as the President of the United States again, he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf.”

McIlroy will tee off tomorrow morning in the $9 million tournament at Yas Links Abu Dhabi at 09:23 local time, alongside South African Thriston Lawrence and Denmark’s Rasmus Hojgaard as he goes in search of his sixth Harry Vardon Trophy, hoping to equal Seve Ballesteros.

Main Image: Michael Reaves