Rory McIlroy expressed frustration Thursday over the ongoing -- and seemingly never-ending -- negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment fund. After PGA Tour commissioner and PGA Tour Enterprises CEO Jay Monahan said Wednesday that there was no deadline in place for a deal, McIlroy cautioned that playing the long game may not be advisable.
"I thought there would have been more progress made, which is unfortunate," he told Golf.com. "I think, at this point, everyone's just getting bored of it, just getting tired of it. It's just become a bit of a cloud over golf. But a very niche cloud, you know?
"I wish more would have been done, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of willingness from some people to try to fix it."
McIlroy has been in and out of these conversations for a long time. He was a player director when the PGa Tour announced its framework deal with the PIF but resigned at the end of 2023, stating, "I just think I've got a lot going on in my life between my golf game, my family and my growing investment portfolio, my involvement in TGL. I just felt like something had to give. I just didn't feel like I could commit the time and the energy into doing that."
Since that admission, there was talk of McIlroy potentially taking over Webb Simpson's seat as a player director early in 2024, though that ultimately amounted to nothing. McIlroy elaborated a bit on his comments to Golf.com from earlier in the week after shooting a 2-under 69 in his opening round of the Tour Championship.
"Anyone that cares about golf, I think, has to be frustrated," McIlroy said. "I think anyone that cares about the PGA Tour has to be frustrated because we -- the royal 'we' -- we're not putting forward the absolute best product that we can. I get the argument that these guys left and that was their choice and whatever.
"I just think that it's gone on long enough. I mean, I think everyone is trying to find a solution. It's just a solution is hard to get to. Even though I was on the wrong side of things, like the U.S. Open with Bryson [DeChambeau] and I, you're only really going to get that four times a year at most. I think the game of golf deserves having those sort of things happen more than just four times a year."
Though Monahan helped PGA Tour Enterprises -- a newly-formed, for-profit organization -- secure $1.5 billion from the Strategic Sports Group earlier this year, he has remained optimistic that the PIF would provide a similar investment stating that the details are simply taking a long time to work out.
McIlroy warned that the PGA Tour cannot negotiate forever.
"I think if it doesn't happen soon, then honestly, I think PIF and the Saudis are going to have to look at alternative options, right? I think that's probably the ... I'd say that's the next step in all this if something doesn't get done."
