Rory McIlroy provides timeframe for LIV Golf resolution in PGA Tour merger talks

Rory McIlroy has claimed a final decision on the negotiations between the PGA Tour and Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) could come at the end of this year.

After announcing a shock framework agreement with PIF last June, the PGA Tour have been in talks over ending their ongoing fallout with their rivals at LIV Golf. Over 15 months on from the initial announcement, the two sides remain locked in negotiations with a deal yet to be completed.

The length of the talks have left many in the game - players and fans alike - frustrated, after those involved initially aimed to complete a deal by the end of 2023, a target which was of course missed.

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McIlroy has found himself at the centre of the PGA Tour-LIV saga for some time, and has called for patience this week, with a final deal approaching. "Maybe it's going too slow for the people that follow golf," the four-time major champion claimed at this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

"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. We're in October so hopefully three months to get something done." This week's DP World Tour event has the eyes of the whole golfing world watching amid the names on the invite list.

On the amateur side of the Pro-Am event, the two names at the centre of the ongoing talks, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and CEO of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia Jay Monahan both in the field. Not only are they both competing, but the two chiefs have been paired together in Thursday's opening round.

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Monahan is joined by PGA Tour star Billy Horschel as his pro partner, whilst Al-Rumayyan will play alongside LIV Golf's Dean Burmester in an eye-catching four-ball. In the group behind comes McIlroy, who is partnered by his dad Gerry, as well as LIV's Louis Oosthuizen and the tournament chief Johann Rupert.

Speaking on the pairings put together Rupert, McIlroy appreciated the efforts to build bridges between rivals. "I think it's a great thing and good sign that Jay and Yasir are going to play together," he added. "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." McIlroy is looking to strengthen his hold at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings, after two near misses, following back-to-back second-place finishes at the Irish Open and BMW PGA Championship.