Professional golf has been steadily moving towards a more global platform, and this trend has accelerated with the emergence of LIV Golf, which has distanced itself from the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy, a highly influential figure in the sport, has not only predicted this outcome but has also outlined a vision of what the future of golf could look like.
In January, prior to his season debut in Dubai, McIlroy shared his ideal scenario for an elite professional tour. He expressed his dream of a world tour that maintains a significant presence of corporate America, including Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the importance of basic economics. McIlroy envisioned a tour that resembles Formula One but with a stronger American presence, complemented by the four majors to create a compelling schedule for the top players.
McIlroy’s comments reflect the ongoing debate surrounding Saudi Arabia’s influence in golf. Despite initially expressing reservations about players leaving the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed circuit, McIlroy has since embraced the idea, particularly after Jon Rahm’s departure for LIV Golf in December. It is worth noting that McIlroy’s plans to relocate from Florida to England in the near future make a more global schedule less problematic for him compared to players residing in specific US states.
Just as the discussion about McIlroy’s desire for a global tour began to settle, he was asked about it again after the third round of the Genesis Invitational. The PGA Tour recently announced a $3 billion investment from Strategic Sports Group, leading to the creation of a new for-profit entity called PGA Tour Enterprises. While some players, like Tiger Woods, do not see the need for the Saudi-backed investment at this time, McIlroy holds a different view. He sees these billions of dollars, and potentially more, as an opportunity to turn his dream scenario into reality, creating a golf tour that resembles the prestigious Champions League in European soccer.
McIlroy envisions a unified tour consisting of the top 80 players in the world, with other leagues feeding into it, similar to the structure of the Champions League. He also highlights the importance of involving countries from different regions, such as the southern hemisphere (Australia, South Africa), the Far East (Korea, Japan, China), and the Middle East (Dubai, Saudi Arabia). His vision encompasses a global tour that spans from east to west, culminating in the United States during the spring and summer seasons.
It is no surprise that McIlroy champions this global approach to golf, as he has become a prominent advocate for the international growth of the sport. However, even if we exclude his opinions and plans, professional golf has been steadily moving in this direction for years. The game’s popularity continues to expand, both at the professional level and beyond, making it inevitable for golf to reach new corners of the globe.
Mark, a journalism and online media graduate from the University of Tennessee, covers all major sports with a keen focus on golf. While he may hold a master’s degree, he leaves it up to you to judge his expertise. When he’s not working, you’ll likely find him on the golf course honing his skills.
According to the Source outkick.com