Rory McIlroy has denied that there is any strain in his relationship with Tiger Woods as discussions continue in effort to strike a deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
McIlroy said he has been "some way" involved with discussions with the Saudi backers of the breakaway tour and although he stated that Woods may see some things differently, he doesn't feel it has impacted their close friendship amid reports of a falling out.
"Friends can have disagreements or not see things, I guess not not see eye-to-eye on things but, yeah, have disagreements on things. I think that’s fine," McIlroy said when asked about their relationship following his opening round at the Wells Fargo in Charlotte.
"We had a really good talk last Friday for 45 minutes just about a lot of different things.
"No, there's no strain there. I think we might see the future of golf a little bit differently, but I don't think that should place any strain on a relationship or on a friendship."
McIlroy has long been one of the most vocal critics of LIV Golf, insisting in July last year that he would rather retire than play on the Saudi Arabian breakaway, but has softened his stance on the influx of money from the sovereign state’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls the LIV Golf League.
Also in his post-round media engagements, McIlroy told reporters he has had conversations with the newly set up transaction committee, that the PGA Tour announced in a press release on Thursday.
"I’ve already had calls with that group, I had a really good hour and a half Zoom with those guys on Sunday, we went through a 150-page doc about the future product model and everything," McIlroy said.
"Yeah, I’m not on the board, but I’m in some way involved in that transaction committee. I don’t have a vote so I don’t, you know, I don’t have I guess a meaningful say in what happens in the future.
"But at least I feel like I can be helpful on that committee, and that was sort of a compromise for I guess not getting a board seat."
MCILROY MAKES BRIGHT START AT WELLS FARGO
The PGA Tour announced that Joe Gorder, the chair and chief executive of Valero, an energy company in the United States, had been elected as the inaugural chairman of PGA Tour Enterprises, while Australian Adam Scott and Tiger Woods are on the board.
A statement said: "The board has established specialised committees dedicated to the organisation’s strategic priorities. This includes the formation of a Transaction Subcommittee, which has been engaging directly in negotiations with the Public Investment Fund (PIF)."
They said the Strategic Sports Group had made an investment of 1.5billion dollars (€ 1.38billion).
It comes after McIlroy said he would not replace Webb Simpson on the PGA Tour policy board after the prospect of his return reopened "old wounds".
Additional reporting: PA
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