LIV Golf and PGA Tour 'in agreement' as Rory McIlroy 'helps strike £1bn deal'

The PGA Tour is finally poised to resolve its long-standing feud with LIV Golf, with a peace agreement worth an astounding £1billion on the cards.

Since LIV's inception in 2022, the PGA Tour has been embroiled in conflict with the Saudi-backed circuit, imposing bans on any player who has participated in a LIV event. In June last year, it seemed that peace was within reach when the Tour unveiled a surprise framework agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).

In the ensuing 17 months, the two parties have been engaged in negotiations, but it appears they have at last reached a formal agreement. According to The Sun, the PIF will inject £1billion into the PGA Tour, which will reciprocate by granting PIF an 11% stake in the American-based circuit.

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The report also suggests that they will secure two seats on the PGA Tour board, including the chairmanship. PGA Tour players who declined an initial switch to the LIV setup will also benefit, with PIF investing in a fund established to reward those who stayed loyal to the Tour.

One such individual was Rory McIlroy, a vocal critic of the breakaway league. However, it has emerged that the Northern Irish golfer played a pivotal role in the peace discussions, alongside Tiger Woods. McIlroy spoke about the deal finally crossing the finish line at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last month, where PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan teamed up with LIV chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the Pro-Am event.

The four-time major champion remarked in Scotland: "Maybe it's going too slow for the people that follow golf. In the business world, deals of this size take time.

"You are talking about billions of dollars changing hands, different jurisdictions. I think we'll know a lot more by year's end." He added optimistically: "We're in October so hopefully three months to get something done.

"I think it's a great thing and good sign that Jay and Yasir are going to play together. And obviously you've got quite a big contingent over from LIV that are playing in this event. I think what Johann Rupert [who owns Dunhill] the man who runs this event is trying to do is just bring the golf world back together a little bit.

"If we need to be forced together in some way, he's trying to do that. I think it will be good. It's certainly a step in the right direction."

Although PGA Tour players have not yet signed off on the agreement, they are anticipated to endorse the deal as well.