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01/21 04:47 CST Rory McIlroy says LIV and PGA Tour 'too far apart' to strike a
deal
Rory McIlroy says LIV and PGA Tour 'too far apart' to strike a deal
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) --- Rory McIlroy believes the PGA Tour and LIV
Golf have grown "too far apart" to form an alliance and bring a splintered
sport back together.
"I just don't see a world where it can happen at this point," McIlroy said
Wednesday at the Dubai Desert Classic on the European tour.
Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour from LIV has brought into sharper focus
the fading hopes of any form of deal being struck by top officials on the two
circuits.
Even U.S. President Donald Trump has gotten involved in negotiations at one
point, but there's no sign of a commercial partnership that was first mooted in
2023 when the tours announced a framework agreement.
To McIlroy, who was once one of the most outspoken critics of LIV before
distancing himself from talks, it looks as far away as ever.
"Just I don't see a world where the two or three sides or whoever it is will
give up enough," he said, in a reference to the involvement of the European
tour in talks. "Like for reunification to happen, every side is going to feel
like they will have lost, where you really want every side to feel like they
have won.
"I think they are just too far apart for that to happen."
McIlroy will be playing on the European tour for a second straight week, having
finished tied for third at the Dubai Invitational on Sunday. He shared the lead
at one stage in the final round but wound up two strokes back from winner Nacho
Elvira.
The No. 2-ranked McIlroy said he is constantly shifting his expectations and
goals after completing the career Grand Slam last year.
For the Northern Irishman, it's mostly about "finding joy in the process."
"I think I need to show up at tournaments with enthusiasm every single time,"
he said. "So playing in the places that I want to play, playing the tournaments
I want to play. Not feeling like I'm at a tournament because I'm obligated or
have to be there but because I want to be there."
Asked what he still wanted to achieve in golf, McIlroy said: "Olympic medal.
(British) Open at St. Andrews. Yeah, maybe like a U.S. Open at one of those
like old, traditional golf courses --- whether it's Shinnecock this year or
Winged Foot or Pebble Beach, (or) Merion.
"I would have told you two years ago," he added, "if I won the Masters, it
would have been great and I could have retired or whatever. But when you keep
doing things, the goal posts keep moving, and you just keep finding new things
that you want to do."
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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