Happy New Year 2025

Tag: PGA

PGA Tour star Rory McIlroy has message about possible LIV merger

Rory McIlroy has a blunt message for people who are upset with a potential PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger: “Get over it.”

McIlroy, 35, said those who turned down exorbitant offers from LIV to remain loyal to the PGA Tour should welcome a reunified sport.

“I think everyone has just got to get over it, and we all have to say, ‘OK, this is the starting point and we move forward.’ We don’t look behind us, we don’t look to the past,” McIlroy said last week. “Whatever has happened has happened, and it’s been unfortunate. But reunification, how we all come back together and move forward, that’s the best thing for everyone.

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Rory McIlroy during the final round of the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines. (Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

“If people are butt-hurt, or have their feelings hurt because guys went or whatever, like who cares? Let’s move forward together and let’s just try to get this thing going again and do what’s best for the game.”

McIlroy was once one of the most, if not the most, outspoken critics of LIV among PGA Tour players.

McIlroy said LIV has ultimately benefited everyone, as the purses for winning PGA events have increased. McIlroy cited the Genesis Invitational as an example, as the purse Ludvig Aberg took home was $4 million, and the overall purse was $20 million.

“That would have never happened if LIV hadn’t have come around,” McIlroy said.

TRUMP ‘NOT A FAN’ OF LIV FORMAT, ON PGA TOUR’S ‘SIDE’ OF DISCUSSIONS, RORY MCILROY SAYS

Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot during the final round of the Genesis Invitational. (Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)

Adam Scott, a member of the PGA Tour board, understands if people would be upset about reunification.

“I wouldn’t be surprised – or I wouldn’t judge anyone, the members – if reunification happened and they weren’t happy with how it happened,” Scott said.

“I wouldn’t hold it against anybody if there were negative emotions attached to it, the thought of players coming back.”

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Adam Scott lines up his putt on the 11th hole during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. (Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)

Scott was part of a group that met with President Donald Trump about a potential reunification, as PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan asked for Trump to get involved.

“It’s not been an easy thing to solve, otherwise we’d have solved it, I believe,” Monahan said.

For whenever it gets solved, McIlroy’s message will ring loud and clear to those upset.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

February 18, 2025
Trump ‘not a fan’ of LIV format, on PGA Tour’s ‘side’ of discussions, Rory McIlroy says

President Donald Trump recently met with members of the PGA Tour in efforts to advance their discussions with LIV Golf and, apparently, he favors one side more than the other.

In June 2023, the rival tours announced that the two had been in discussions to eventually join forces. But, after stalled conversations, the PGA called on Trump to advance the negotiations.

Well, outside the negotiation table, golf legend Rory McIlroy said he played a round with Trump “a few weeks ago,” and the two had a “really good” discussion.

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Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the BMW Championship golf tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colorado, on Aug 25, 2024. (Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports)

McIlroy then broke some news.

“I learned that he’s not a fan of the LIV format. I think he’s… he’s on the [PGA] Tour’s side,” McIlroy said.

Trump has hosted LIV Golf tournaments at his courses since the league’s inception in 2022; a Trump course last hosted a PGA event in 2016.

It is an about-face by McIlroy, who said in 2020 he would not play golf with Trump again as he questioned the president’s leadership in the early stages of the pandemic.

PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan recently said the tour “asked” Trump “to get involved for the good of the game, the good of the country and for all the countries involved.”

Former President Donald Trump follows his tee shot on the 3rd tee during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Aug. 10, 2023. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

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Adam Scott, a member of the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Board, was at the meeting, and said Trump’s “love” for the game could be “helpful” to an eventual deal.

“It’s just a positive thing that the President of the United States is such a lover of the game of golf and understands some of the challenges facing the professional game at the moment…” Scott told Golf Channel this week ahead of the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California. “He’s a lover of the game and hopefully can be very helpful in getting a resolve for the professional game and help everybody move forward.”

“It’s pretty easy to tie him to the game of golf. He’s passionate about it, he owns several golf properties, fabulous destinations around the world, and he has a relationship with Saudi Arabia, the Public Investment Fund, and he’s a fan of the PGA Tour as well, certainly a fan of Tiger Woods, like we all are,” Scott added. “Given that this has been tied up in government beliefs, he can be very helpful.”

McIlroy did say back in November that he felt Trump becoming president for the second time could help “clear the way” for a deal between the PGA and LIV.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy waves after his round during day two of The Open at Royal Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland, on July 19, 2024. (Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)

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Four-time major champion McIlroy was recently a part of a 2-on-2 exhibition, partnering with Scottie Scheffler against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.

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February 13, 2025
PGA Tour credits Trump with moving LIV Golf deal closer during president’s big sports week

The PGA Tour put out a statement Thursday thanking President Donald Trump for intervening in the tour’s effort to broker a business agreement with LIV Golf and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

“We asked the president to get involved for the good of the game, the good of the country and for all the countries involved,” a statement from PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Tiger Woods said. “We are grateful that his leadership has brought us closer to a final deal, paving the way for reunification of men’s professional golf.”

After launching in 2022, LIV lured several star golfers with massive salaries, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia.

In June of that year, the PGA suspended 17 players who pledged to play for LIV and promised future suspensions for anyone who participated in LIV events.

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Former President Donald Trump, the 2024 presidential hopeful, plays golf ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational series tournament at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, N.J., Aug. 9, 2023. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

In June 2023, the PGA Tour and the European-based DP World Tour announced they had a ‘framework agreement’ for a merger with PIF and LIV. But the agreement never materialized because the deadline to complete that deal passed at the end of that year.

More than a full year has passed since, but now Trump’s intervention may bring that deal closer to fruition.

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Golf star Rory McIlroy said in November he believed Trump becoming president for the second time could help “clear the way” for a deal between the PGA and LIV.

Trump has a close relationship with Saudi Arabia and LIV Golf, with several of its 54-hole events being staged at Trump-owned courses.

Trump’s intervention with the PGA-LIV negotiations was one of many big sports moments for the president this week.

Former President Donald Trump watches his shot from the first tee during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational – Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster July 28, 2022, in Bedminster, N.J. (Charles Laberge/LIV Golf via Getty Images)

Trump changed the course of women’s sports history by signing the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order in the East Room of the White House in front of female athletes on National Girls and Women in Sports Day Wednesday.

The NCAA quickly capitulated to Trump’s order, announcing Thursday afternoon a new participation policy for transgender student-athletes.

“A student-athlete assigned male at birth may not compete on a women’s team,” the new policy states.

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It was also reported this week that Trump will become the first sitting president in history to attend a Super Bowl.

The news prompted excitement from Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

“It’s always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president,” Mahomes said. “Someone that is at the top position in our country.”

Kelce called it an “honor.”

“I think, you know, no matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know. And having the president there, you know, it’s the best country in the world. So, that’d be pretty cool,” Kelce said.

Former President Donald Trump headlines a Republican National Committee spring donor retreat in Palm Beach, Fla., May 4, 2024 (Donald Trump 2024 campaign)

Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Chiefs team owner Clark Hunt, spoke to Riley Gaines on OutKick’s “Gaines for Girls” podcast and reacted to Trump’s remarks.

“It’s pretty cool. It’s pretty awesome,” she told Gaines. “Sometimes, I just look at whoever I’m talking to, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, that just wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card.’ But, wow, that’s just absolutely incredible.”

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 7, 2025
PGA star Jason Day wears sweats at Pebble Beach, sparking social media stir, John Fetterman comparisons

It’s no secret that Jason Day has pushed the boundaries lately with his on-course attire, but many fans think he crossed the line on Sunday.

Day teed off for the final round at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and his outfit – a full gray sweatsuit – drew a ton of reaction.

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The Australian has a partnership with Malbon Golf, who has tried to de-country-club the golf look.

Jason Day hits his bunker shot during the Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Feb. 2, 2025.

It got to the point where Augusta National officials asked him to make an outfit change during last year’s Masters.

At Pebble Beach, Day was donning an outfit that some might just sleep in, prompting a stir.

“I don’t care how much I get downvoted but he is finding new ways to look like a slob,” wrote one user on X.

“An insult to the game,” said another.

Added one more, “Dressing like John Fetterman should not be an option for professional golfers on the tour. Frankly, it should not be an option for any golfers playing at Pebble Beach.”

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Jason Day acknowledges the crowd after making a putt during the final round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. (Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)

That wasn’t the only nod to the Pennsylvania senator.

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Day entered the day seven strokes back of leader Sepp Straka – the crowded leader board also features Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Tom Kim, Lucas Glover and Cam Davis.

Jason Day hits his second shot on the fourth hole during the final round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. (Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)

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The former World No. 1 has one win within the last seven years, taking home the 2023 Byron Nelson – he won eight events from February 2015 through May of the next year, including the PGA Championship and Players Championship.

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February 2, 2025