Rory McIlroy ‘quit PGA Tour group chat’ amid Jordan Spieth disagreement over LIV Golf deal

Rory McIlroy has been at the center of PGA Tour drama for the past two years, but the Northern Irishman is now trying to distance himself from the story.

Rory McIlroy has pulled out of a group chat for PGA Tour players to distance himself from ongoing negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

McIlroy has often been at the center of a saga between the PGA Tour and rivals LIV Golf, but the Northern Irishman stepped down last season after initiating talks to reach an amicable settlement between the two teams. The latest chapter in that story came earlier this week after the PGA Tour announced a deal with Strategic Sports Group (SSG).

SSG, which owns Liverpool FC Fenway Sports Group, plans to invest £2.4 billion ($3 billion) in PGA Tour Enterprises, the circuit’s new commercial arm. The agreement with the US investor has raised doubts about the PGA Tour’s proposed deal with the PIF, which is still under negotiation. As a result of SSG’s investment, Jordan Spieth said this week at Pebble Beach that the Tour no longer needs PIF support. This is in contrast to McIlroy, who welcomed the partnership with the Saudi Arabian fund despite previous criticism. Because of their differing opinions, the four-time champion spent an hour on the phone with Spieth explaining his thoughts. McIlroy told Sports Illustrated about leaving the group chat and his phone call with the American: “I want to get away from the fight a little bit. I spoke to [Spieth] about his comments. “We talked about it very openly.”

McIlroy said he understood Spieth’s views on PIF, but acknowledged it could have a negative impact on future investments. “I think initially I was an investor. I thought they were going to do this deal in July, but then I heard a board member tell us we don’t need them. What do they think about it, what do they think about it? He added: “They are still calculating the hundreds of billions, even trillions of dollars that will be poured into sports. I know what Jordan said, I know exactly what he said and what he meant to do. Say But if I were a PIF and heard this here the day after I closed this SSG deal, don’t you think it would make me so happy?