Rory McIlroy has suggested that a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House could help resolve the ongoing rift between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf series, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). He also hinted that tech mogul Elon Musk might play a pivotal role in brokering a deal for the future of professional golf.

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf have been engaged in lengthy negotiations aimed at mending the divide in men’s golf, with numerous top players still banned from competing on the PGA Tour. A proposed agreement to unite the two factions, first revealed in June 2023, could face significant opposition from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which has raised concerns about the deal’s potential anti-competitive implications.

Speaking after Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, McIlroy noted that the political climate may now be more favorable for such a resolution. The DOJ operates independently, but a sitting president has influence over key appointments, including those of the attorney general and solicitor general.

Earlier this week, Trump expressed confidence that he could end the so-called “golf civil war” in just a matter of minutes. McIlroy, who has previously pointed to the DOJ as the key obstacle to a deal between the PGA, DP World Tour, and PIF, suggested that Trump could help break the impasse, especially with the backing of Musk, whom McIlroy described as “the smartest man in the world.”

“We’ll see how it goes,” said McIlroy, the current world number three. “He’s got Elon Musk beside him. If we can get Musk involved, maybe we can sort something out. From the outside, it might seem simpler than it really is.”

McIlroy pointed to Trump’s longstanding ties to both golf and Saudi Arabia as reasons why he could help facilitate an agreement. “He’s got a great relationship with Saudi Arabia and golf in general, so who knows?” McIlroy added. “But as president, he’s probably got more important matters on his plate than golf.”

Trump has been a vocal supporter of LIV Golf, praising the series’ financial resources. Several LIV events have taken place at Trump-owned courses since the league’s launch in 2022. Speaking on a podcast hosted by former NFL coach Bill Belichick, Trump said he believed the sport would benefit from a unified tour with the best players competing on the same platform.

“I do think we should have one tour,” Trump remarked. “And it should feature the best players.”

Recent reports suggested that a $1 billion deal to unite the PGA Tour and LIV Golf has been agreed upon, with Saudi Arabia taking an 11% stake in the PGA Tour. As part of the arrangement, PIF governor Yasir Al Rumayyan, who has played golf with Trump, would reportedly take over as PGA Tour chairman. However, some sources have dismissed the reports as premature, citing ongoing concerns about antitrust issues in the U.S.

McIlroy, who sits on the PGA Tour’s “transaction committee,” is anticipating an update from PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan before his return to competition. Monahan recently traveled to Saudi Arabia to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference, where he held discussions that could shape the future of the proposed deal. McIlroy noted that Monahan is expected to brief the committee on the latest developments ahead of McIlroy’s next tournament.

Looking ahead, McIlroy is focused on his preparation for the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship. A win would secure him the Race to Dubai title for a third consecutive year with one tournament remaining. However, rather than dwelling on external factors, McIlroy has been concentrating on his swing during the recent break from competition.

“I decided after the Dunhill Championship that I wouldn’t focus on ball flight for three weeks,” McIlroy explained. “I spent that time in a swing studio, hitting balls into a blank screen or net, and concentrated on the movements of my swing and body patterns.”