Rory McIlroy Reiterates Hope for PGA Tour, PIF Agreement: 'You Would See That There’s a Path Forward'

Details are being kept quiet on purpose, McIlroy said, adding that the perfect golf calendar after a deal would look different from what exists now.

Among the many questions associated with the "framework agreement" is how the new for-profit entity called PGA Tour Enterprises would look—with or without Public Investment Fund backing.

With no agreement in sight—but the PGA Tour saying it is still working toward one with the DP World Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia—it leads to conjecture about what the big-picture outcome will be and how professional golf will appear beyond 2024.

Rory McIlroy was offering no specifics on Tuesday in Dubai, but he did share a little bit of information as he again reiterated his hope that a deal can be reached, even if not by the stated Dec. 31 deadline.

Rory McIlroy said changes would be made to the golf calendar after an agreement between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund / Imago

"If we can create a perfect golf calendar, what would it look like? And I don’t think it would look like it looks right now," McIlroy said at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, where he is competing in this week’s final event of the season. "I think there would be changes made.

"Look at what Max Homa and Justin Thomas did last week, going down to South Africa (where Homa won and Thomas finished fourth at the Nedbank Challenge). They had a really good time. They played in a different part of the world where they had never played before. If more of that sort of stuff could happen, I think it would be really good for golf."

But how? What would be the process?

The Tour has been entertaining private equity possibilities that are said to be significant, well more than $1 billion. What that investment would get is a fascinating part of the entire scenario.

McIlroy said again that he hopes a deal comes together quickly although he doesn’t expect anything soon.

"If you were in the middle of it, you would see that there’s a path forward," McIlroy said. "It’s just that no one on the outside has any details. Loose lips sink ships, so we are trying to keep it tight and within walls. I’m sure when there’s news to tell, it will be told. But getting something done sooner rather than later is a good thing. Even if we get a deal done, it doesn’t mean that it’s actually going to happen. That’s up to the United States government at that point and whether the Department of Justice think that it’s the right thing to do. So it wouldn’t be a sure thing."

McIlroy was referencing the fact that the U.S. government has not been all-in on Saudi involvement. It has been suggested that outside private equity might help gain government approval.

In a memo to PGA Tour players Tuesday, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said negotiations are ongoing.

"We continue to remain focused on our negotiations toward a definitive agreement with the PIF and the DP World Tour as our priority," Monahan wrote.