Rory McIlroy and LIV Golf detractors in line for huge Saudi 'paydays' as part of bid to smooth PGA merger

Rory McIlroy and other top PGA loyal golfers are reportedly in line for a mega payday as the Saudi Public Investment Fund look to make amends for the long-running LIV Golf row.

The PGA and DP World Tours spent two years locked in legal battles with the Saudis over the controversial breakaway LIV circuit which tempted the likes of Phil Mickelson away from the longstanding status quo. But it all came to a dramatic and surprising end last week with the bombshell announcement that the two organisations are set to merge.

There is still bad blood to be ironed out though and The Times say the Saudis will front up cash to help ease the transition. The likes of McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods are said to be in line for mega paydays to level the financial playing field after the likes of Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson all took home tens of millions to switch allegiances.

McIlroy had been one of the most vocal critics of LIV although the Irish golfer says he is on board with the new arrangement - albeit with a few caveats. He said: "The simple answer is yes, I accept the new deal. The complex answer is how does that happen, right?

"And that's all a gray area and up in the air at the minute. But, yeah, it's hard for me to not sit up here and feel somewhat like a sacrificial lamb and feeling like I've put myself out there and this is what happens.

"I see how this is better for the game of golf. There's no denying that. But, for me as an individual, yeah, there's just going to have to be conversations that are had."