Are we seeing the end of the rivalry and bitterness between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour?
While Jon Rahm being poached by LIV appeared to reignite the hostility, Jupiter’s Rory McIlroy and Palm Beach Gardens’ Greg Norman, two of the bigger antagonists in this nearly two-year-old feud, are showing signs of a reconciliation.
Norman, LIV’s CEO and commissioner, expressed his appreciation for McIlroy “falling on his sword.”
McIlroy, speaking recently on a podcast hosted by Sky Sports, admitted he was “too judgmental” about LIV.
“I’ve got to be honest with you, I’m very appreciative of what Rory said,” Norman said on the LIV Golf Podcast. “It’s been a painful couple of years.
“The reason I say I appreciate Rory to fall on his sword to some degree is the fact that he did judge us by not knowing the facts. He judged us on other people’s thoughts and opinions. I say, ‘Hey, thank you Rory’. This is a significant turning point for everybody.”
This comes after Phil Mickelson took to X, formerly known as Twitter, early Thursday morning to share his thoughts on McIlroy’s comments.
Rory McIlroy of Team Europe smiles after chipping in on the eighth hole during a practice round prior to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Club on September 26, 2023, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which finances LIV Golf, and the PGA Tour continue to work on closing the “framework agreement” that would create a for-profit company combining their commercial interests. The deal includes PIF reportedly investing up to $2 billion in the PGA Tour.
A Dec. 31 deadline was set to close the deal but the Tour is looking to extend the negotiations given “active and productive conversations.”
McIlroy, the four-time major champion and No. 2 ranked golfer in the world, likely has helped those negotiations by saying he has accepted the reality that LIV is part of golf now.
“I think that was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realize not everyone is in my position or in Tiger’s position,” McIlroy said.
“You get this offer and what do you do? We all turned professional to make a living playing the sports that we do and I think that’s what I realized over the past two years, I can’t judge people for making that decision.”
Rahm joined LIV Golf for a deal reportedly worth more than $550 million including bonuses. McIlroy and Rahm were European Ryder Cup teammates during last fall’s victory over the U.S. in Rome.
“Jon Rahm’s not got any of the heat the first guys got for going,” McIlroy said. “It’s a smart business move, it’s opportunistic. I think he sees that things will come back together.
“If that is what he wants to do and he thinks that’s the right decision for him and his family, then who am I to say any different at this point?”
Rahm, ranked No. 3 in the world, will make his LIV debut Feb. 2-4 at Mayakoba, Mexico.