Rory McIlroy says Las Vegas showdown with LIV stars is what the golf world wants

As the golf world sits in limbo waiting for a new deal between the PGA Tour and LIV’s Saudi backers, Rory McIlroy has a message for officials.

Rory McIlroy says the world’s best need to play together more often. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Major champion Rory McIlroy dismissed a suggestion his impending showdown against LIV stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka was a “message” for golf’s officials to speed up reuniting the tours.

But he says the world’s best golfers need to come together “more than four times a year” as he declared his excitement for the Las Vegas event.

Meetings between the PGA Tour and LIV backers the Saudi Public Investment Fund in New York this week have peaked hope that a new deal on an alignment of some sort could be close.

McIlroy is set to team up with world No.1 Scottie Scheffler for a made-for-TV showdown against the LIV duo in Las Vegas in December, further indication of a growing thaw after two years of acrimony, at times led by the Northern Irishman.

But having cooled his own views, and distanced himself from official talks between golf’s leading officials, McIlroy said it was becoming clearer how important it was for the world’s best, separated by tours and rules, to play together more often than just the four majors.

“I wouldn’t say it’s meant to send a message. It’s more we wanted to do something that, I guess, all golf fans could get excited about,” he said.

“You’ve got the best player in the world. You’ve got two guys in Bryson and Brooks that have won majors in the last two years. You’ve got me in there who I haven’t done what those guys have done the last couple years but I’ve definitely been, I feel, one of the best players in the world.

🚨🆚⛳️ #NEWS — Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are set to face off against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in a made for TV Match. The TOUR & LIV stars will go head to head in Las Vegas on TNT in mid December in what will be must see television. (Via @golfweek)… pic.twitter.com/UYIRTCQ95o

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) September 4, 2024

“It’s a way to show golf fans in the world that this is what could happen or these are the possibilities going forward. I’ve been saying this for a long time. I think golf and golf fans get to see us together more than four times a year.

“I think that’s what we’ve tried to do. It’s in the middle of December. There’s not a lot going on in the game of golf, so trying to get people excited about something before the season starts again.

“I think we all thought it was a good idea and something that hopefully is a sign of things to come in the future.”

McIlroy, playing in the Irish Open this week, said he knew little about the New York talks, with the PGA Tour season over.

Rory McIlroy discusses the reason for his upcoming made-for-TV match with Scottie Scheffler against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. pic.twitter.com/ut6Lxwr1PC

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 11, 2024

But he was hopeful it could bring about “news”.

“It’s certainly peculiar timing. I don’t know much about the talks that are going on. I know that there is but that’s not something that I’m a part of,” he said.

“I think we are all in the game of golf trying to look for a solution to all this and try to move forward, so we’ll see. I know as much as you do at this point, and I’m sure news will start to trickle out here in the next few days.”