The ongoing slugfest between the PGA and PIF is the dust that just refuses to settle. What started as a business discussion quickly turned into a high-stakes drama with billions of dollars at stake and golf’s biggest stars taking sides in a battle that’s divided the sport since 2022. Even the POTUS Donald Trump stepped into the negotiation ring recently, hosting key figures from both sides in what Commissioner Jay Monahan called a “constructive working session” at the White House. Of similar consequence was another parallel battle raging: whether the deal was good or bad for the PGA.

On the sidelines in the PGA Tour front, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth found themselves locking horns with each other. McIlroy had been strongly pushing for reunification, arguing that the sport needs all its best players competing together. Spieth maintained the Tour could flourish without Saudi involvement. Their disagreement became so intense that McIlroy reportedly exited a players’ group chat following Spieth’s public opposition to the merger. But a shocking reversal at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational has golf insiders buzzing as McIlroy’s latest comments suddenly echo his rival’s stance.

Rory McIlroy makes shocking admission about PGA Tour and Saudi deal

Just months ago in January, the Northern Irishman insisted that “having a diminished PGA Tour and having a diminished LIV Tour or anything else is bad for both parties” and that it would be “much better being together.” But McIlroy’s stance has evolved dramatically since late 2023, following Jon Rahm’s defection to LIV Golf. After initially being one of LIV’s harshest critics, McIlroy began softening his position in early 2024, admitting he was too judgmental of LIV players. By February 2025, he actively advocated for reunification, urging everyone to get over it if they felt upset or hurt because players joined LIV. Now, just weeks later, his pragmatic acknowledgment represents a dramatic reversal.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill this week, McIlroy made the statement that has golf insiders reassessing the power dynamics in the ongoing merger discussions. When asked if golf still needs a deal with PIF given the Tour’s recent momentum, McIlroy delivered the statement many never expected to hear from him: “I think the narrative around golf, I wouldn’t say needs a deal, I think the narrative around golf would welcome a deal in terms of just having all the best players together again. But I don’t think the PGA Tour needs a deal.”

Spieth, who replaced McIlroy on the PGA Tour Policy Board in November 2023, had consistently maintained that while a deal might be welcome, it wasn’t necessary. “I don’t think that it’s needed,” Spieth previously stated regarding PIF’s investment, arguing the Tour had sufficient independent momentum.

But McIlroy’s concession comes with a caveat: he still believes having all the top players compete together would be “the ideal scenario for golf as a whole.” However, his acknowledgment that “the momentum is pretty strong” for the PGA Tour signals a major shift in his thinking. Some exciting new developments in the golf world seem to have influenced this dramatic change in perspective.

TGL success strengthens PGA Tour’s bargaining position

A key factor driving McIlroy’s changed perspective appears to be the successful launch of TGL, the tech-driven golf league he co-founded with Tiger Woods. Since its January 2025 debut, TGL has outperformed expectations, averaging 810,000 viewers across its first five ESPN matches and dwarfing LIV Golf’s peak audience of just 54,000 viewers.

According to Sports Business Journal, the league has attracted 11.3 million unique viewers, with a median audience age of 51.6 years—significantly younger than both the PGA Tour (63) and LIV Golf (63). This success with a younger audience, combined with improving PGA Tour ratings, has clearly strengthened the Tour’s position.

Major PGA Tour events are now generating impressive numbers, with the WM Phoenix Open drawing 2.87 million viewers—a staggering 50 times larger than LIV Golf’s audience during the same weekend. The Cognizant Classic finale averaged 2.15 million viewers, up from 2024’s weather-impacted 1.45 million.

McIlroy acknowledged the impact of these developments, noting: “I think the momentum is pretty strong. As you say, TV’s been good, TGL’s been hopefully pretty additive to the overall situation.”

So what does this mean for golf’s fractured landscape? Will we ever see all the world’s best players competing regularly again outside the majors? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Jordan Spieth has earned the last laugh in a debate that may have permanently altered professional golf’s trajectory.