PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy insisted things are finally heading in the right direction with LIV Golf’s backers after the third round of the Memorial Tournament.
McIlroy was involved in a lengthy meeting with representatives of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund on Friday which was held in New York.
The four-time major champion joined the meeting via video from Muirfield Village.
After said meeting, the PGA Tour released a statement saying talks were constructive.
McIlroy echoed that sentiment after he carded a disappointing 73 on Saturday afternoon.
“Very productive, very constructive, very collaborative,” McIlroy said of the meeting.
“I think those are probably three words I would use to describe it.
“It was really good. Definitely things are heading in the right direction.
“A lot of progress was made. I can’t really say much more than that, but it was really positive.”
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy said the meeting with PIF officials lasted nearly five hours.
He said he was ‘not surprised’ by what came out of the meeting but ‘more encouraged’.
McIlroy’s tone over the last few months has been one of despair as he talked down the prospect of a deal.
His ally Jimmy Dunne quit the policy board earlier in the year.
Dunne’s resignation prompted McIlroy to say the PGA Tour was in ‘worse place’.
Yesterday’s meeting dealt more with the future of the game, McIlroy said.
“I thought there was a lot of progress that was made,” he said.
A reporter asked McIlroy if anything was presented that he hadn’t heard of before.
McIlroy joked: “I know a lot more about the Department of Justice.
“I know a lot more about certain rights and investment deals, but apart from that.”
Rory McIlroy
Before he left his news conference, McIlroy said players are getting a better sense of what PIF actually want.
“You’ve got to understand, they’re a sovereign wealth fund,” he said.
“They invest in companies and in different things and they want a return on their investment. That’s what they want.
“It doesn’t seem like they’re getting that at the minute within golf, and this — you know, hopefully if things progress and we get to a certain point, then hopefully they see a future where that can happen, they can start to get some returns on their money.”
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