Rory McIlroy has revealed that he played golf with Donald Trump before his inauguration and claimed the US president is "on the PGA Tour's side" when it comes to golf’s civil war.
In a wide-ranging press conference ahead of the Genesis Invitational, McIlroy said he learned that Trump is not a fan of LIV Golf’s 54-hole format, which includes team and individual elements and a shotgun start.
McIlroy, who initially played golf with Trump in February 2017, said in 2020 that he would not do so again – and doubted he would even be invited – after questioning Trump’s leadership during the coronavirus pandemic.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott met with Trump last week as efforts continue to strike a deal between the US-based circuit, the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls LIV Golf.
Talks have been ongoing since the signing of a framework agreement in June 2023.
Asked about that meeting and what Trump could achieve, McIlroy made reference to Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the PIF.
"So the president, he can do a lot of things," McIlroy said. "He has direct access to Yasir’s boss [Mohammed bin Salman]. Not many people have that.
"Not many people can say, I want you to get this deal done and by the way, I’m speaking to your boss, I’m going to tell him the same thing.
"He [Trump] can be influential. I saw it when I was playing with Sheikh Hamdan of Abu Dhabi the day when he got elected in November and the respect he has in the Middle East… I don’t think people appreciate how much respect that he has there.
"So I think whenever he says something they listen and I think that’s a big thing."
Asked if he had spoken to Trump recently, McIlroy said he had played golf with him
Read more on rte.ie
rte.ie
