Rory McIlroy believes that Donald Trump becoming President of the United States for a second time will help pave the way for a peace deal in golf.
With the 78-year-old Republican delivering a victory over Democratic opponent Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s presidential election, McIlroy believes the conclusion of long-running talks between the PGAs will be accelerated once the golf-loving Trump returns to the White House in January. The Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf have formalized a framework agreement initially signed in June 2023.
“I think with today’s news about what’s happened in the United States, the path has become a little clearer,” McIlroy said at a press conference ahead of this week’s HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi. Sky Sports Golf It serves as the first back-to-back season-ending playoffs for the Race to Dubai.
Asked whether the U.S. Justice Department would therefore be more receptive to the proposed agreement under Trump’s presidency, McIlroy said: “It would be a huge moment.”
Appearing on a podcast ahead of the election earlier this week, Trump suggested it would “take about 15 minutes” to close a deal between LIV and the existing tours.
speaking Sky Sports Golf Responding to the claim, McIlroy said: “He could be!
“He has Elon Musk, who I think is the smartest man in the world, by his side, so if we can get Musk involved as well, he might be able to get something done.
“But on the surface it seems a little less complicated than it is, obviously Trump has a good relationship with Saudi Arabia, he has a good relationship with golf, he loves golf, so maybe it is, you know?
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“But being President of the United States again, he probably has more things to focus on than golf.”
McIlroy happy to win ‘boring’ Race to Dubai if secured a week early
On more immediate matters, the world number three is expected to draw a “boring” early conclusion to his bid to win a sixth Race to Dubai title in Abu Dhabi when the first of the DP World Tour’s two play-off events begins in the UAE. I hope you can. On Thursday.
McIlroy is top of the money list and will face the late Seve Ballesteros in Abu Dhabi this week, a week before the season-ending DP World Tour Championships, where he will secure the Harry Vardon Trophy as winner or runner-up. In Dubai.
And he admitted: “If we go out and win this week, next week will be a bit boring. But it won’t be boring. It’ll be lovely.”
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Rory McIlroy compares his and dad Gerry’s swings on day three of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships.
“All I can focus on is the task at hand and trying to play as best as I can this week and give myself another chance to win. “I’ve had a lot of good opportunities this year and converted a few times but missed a few.
“Over the past few years I have tried again to win the Race to Dubai. I probably haven’t played enough in the DP World Tour over the years. I tried to give myself a chance, but I really tried again to do what was important to me. It’s about making it.
“To win the last two years, win three years in a row and try to finish sixth overall is pretty significant.
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Rory’s father Gerry McIlroy narrowly avoided being turned sky blue when his drive found a bunker, but saved par with a fantastic chip.
“Obviously it’s a future goal to reach Monty’s (Colin Montgomery) number eight, or maybe surpass it, but I’d like to go down as the most successful European of all time.
“Of course that would include winning the Race to Dubai, but it would also include winning major championships and hopefully a few more Ryder Cups in the future.
“So I think this is a fairly achievable goal over the next 10 years.”
Who will win the Race to Dubai? Watch the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and DP World Tour Championship live on Sky Sports Golf this month. Get Sky Sports
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