Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy agree after LIV Golf talks ahead of US Open

Tiger Woods has joined Rory McIlroy in praising the initial stages of negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf concerning their proposed merger. Both golf icons, who had previously criticized the Saudi-backed LIV Golf venture, met with PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan in New York City following the announcement in July 2023 about a potential collaboration.

McIlroy, who had been an outspoken critic of LIV Golf, described the meeting as “good” and “productive.” He commented, “Yeah, 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.”

Ahead of the US Open at Pinehurst this week, Tiger Woods echoed similar sentiments. The 15-time major winner, who had also been vocal in his support for the PGA Tour, noted that both parties had made significant progress. During his pre-tournament press conference, Woods said, “I think that both sides walked away from the meeting, we all felt very positive in that meeting. As I said, both sides were looking at different ways to get to the end game. I think that both sides shared a deep passion for how we need to get there. And yes, there are going to be differences of opinion, but we all want the same thing.”

For the US Open, Woods will be grouped with 2022 champion Matt Fitzpatrick and American golfer Will Zalatoris for the first 36 holes in North Carolina. This follows Woods’ failure to make the cut at the US PGA Championship and a disappointing performance in the final two rounds of the Masters.

McIlroy, on the other hand, is set to play alongside Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, forming a trio that highlights the PGA Tour’s elite. This pairing underscores the improving relations between the two tours since the contentious launch of LIV Golf in June 2022. The US PGA Championship at Valhalla in May marked the first major event where ‘rebel’ players who had not automatically qualified were extended invites based on their current form.

Last year, Greg Norman and LIV Golf made headlines by securing Jon Rahm with a £450 million deal. Rahm, a two-time major champion, had initially shown no interest in joining LIV Golf, citing the importance of his legacy on the PGA Tour. There were also rumors that McIlroy might defect to LIV Golf, but he quickly dismissed these claims, stating he had “no idea” where such reports originated.

The thaw in relations and the ongoing discussions signal a new chapter in professional golf, where both tours are seeking common ground for the future of the sport.