Donald Trump ‘can be influential’ in resolving the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s dispute, says Rory McIlroy.
The president’s love of golf has seen him take a keen interest in the ongoing split in the sport.
NBC GolfThe world number three was once again asked about LIV Golf[/caption]
Both the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV remain in talks to unify the two tours, but a solution has yet to be reached.
Trump even met with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan earlier this month as they look for help in talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
World number three McIlroy believes Trump can play a key role in the negotiations going forward.
Speaking ahead of the Genesis Invitational on Wednesday, he told reporters: “The President, he can do a lot of things.
“He has direct access to Yasir (Al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF)’s boss (Mohammed bin Salman). Not many people have that.
“Not many people can say, ‘I want you to get this deal done and by the way, I’m speaking to your boss, I’m going to tell him the same thing’.
“He (Trump) can be influential. I saw it when I was playing with Sheikh Hamdan of Abu Dhabi (on) the day (Trump) got elected in November. I don’t think people appreciate how much respect he has (in the Middle East).
“Whenever he says something, they listen and I think that’s a big thing.”
McIlroy and Trump themselves had a ‘good discussion’ during a round of golf ‘a few weeks ago’, the four-time Major winner added.
The president even revealed his allegiance in the PGA Tour and LIV rivalry to McIlroy.
GettyThe four-time Major winner is in action at the Genesis Invitational this weekend[/caption]
He explained: “I learnt that he’s not a fan of the LIV format.
“I said, ‘But you’ve hosted loads of their events’. And he was like, ‘Yeah, but it doesn’t mean that I like it’, so I think he’s on the Tour’s side.”
The 35-year-old also reiterated his own views on LIV’s impact on the sport, continuing: “Whether you stayed on the PGA Tour or left, we have all benefited from this.
“I’ve been on the record saying this a lot. We’re playing for a 20 million dollar prize fund this week (and) that would have never happened if LIV hadn’t come around.
“I think everyone’s just got to get over it and we all have to say ‘okay, this is the starting point and we move forward’. We don’t look to the past.
“Whatever’s happened has happened. How we all come back together and move forward, that’s the best thing for everyone.”
McIlroy will be in action at Torrey Pines this weekend as he looks to win his second PGA Tour event of the year.
He previously claimed victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am earlier this month.
However, McIlroy has yet to win the Genesis Invitational across eight appearances at the event.
Despite that, he has only missed the cut once and has three top 10 finishes.