Rory McIlroy has welcomed the presence of the key figures in golf's civil war in this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and expects news on a deal "definitely before the year's end".PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is partnering Billy Horschel in the pro-am event and will be in the same group as Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund - which bankrolls LIV Golf - in Thursday's first round at Carnoustie.Monahan will then play with McIlroy at Kingsbarns on Friday before McIlroy and Al-Rumayyan will be out together on Saturday at St Andrews.The PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the PIF signed a framework agreement in June 2023 but McIlroy said last month he believes scrutiny from the US Department of Justice and a 50-50 split between players on both sides pose the biggest obstacles to a deal being secured.Speaking during a practice round at St Andrews on Wednesday, McIlroy told BBC Northern Ireland: "You know, there's no better place than the home of golf to get everyone together and talking."It's a great thing and a good sign that Jay and Yasir are playing together on Thursday.
I think it is a step in the right direction. Time will tell if things go in the direction I want them to or a lot of people want them to."I think we all understand it is not easy and, you know, change for the most part in golf is resisted because it is such a traditional sport."But I think at this point in time I think change is needed to sort of try and drive the game forward and hopefully we can get to that point."Asked when that point might be, McIlroy added: "Definitely before the year's end."Maybe it is going too slow for the people who follow golf.