Rory’s merger outlook, Ryder Cup learnings

Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Rory McIlroy’s merger assessment, some new learnings for the 2025 Ryder Cup, PGA Tour venue selections and more.

In an interview with The Scotsman, Rory McIlroy said it was likely LIV golfers and PGA Tour golfers would keep “doing their own thing for the foreseeable future.” The interview followed some interesting pairings at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship where McIlroy played with both PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. What do you make of McIlroy’s assessment?

Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): It comes across as confirmation of what has seemed apparent for a while now: the two are moving in separate orbits, with little intention of overlapping except for the occasional major and televised stunt event. The Tour, it seems, is comfortable enough with its private cash infusion that it can keep on keeping on for the time being. And LIV, which doesn’t need the money and likely never will, can do the same. None of this is especially good news for fans, but they’ve never been treated as the top priority in any of this anyway.

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): Bad news for those who want to see a unified professional game in the near future. Here’s to hoping things can get sorted out sooner rather than later. Every passing year with a fractured game does more damage — and the fans are the biggest losers. 

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): It’s impossible to out-bleak those two answers, so let’s talk process. As I understand it, the Saudi PIF’s involvement with the PGA Tour would start with an investment in PGA Tour Enterprises, the Tour’s new for-profit wing. Then, with the gradual approval of the Department of Justice, things could (theoretically, depending on the cooperation of several important parties) eventually tick in the direction of unification. But yeah, we’re not on the brink of resolution, I don’t think.

The next Ryder Cup may be nearly a year away, but you wouldn’t know at this week’s press conference with captains Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald. One of the more surprising learnings was that Donald was in contact with European legend and LIV Golfer Sergio Garcia, who is apparently considering rejoining the DP World Tour in hopes of being able to play at Bethpage next fall. Use your glass ball, will Garcia and other LIV golfers like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton be on the European team next September?

Sens: Rory McIlroy said he hopes that Rahm will be eligible, and you’ve got to bet enough other powerful voices in the game feel the same that it will happen. We should all hope it does. Makes for a better competition, and if nothing else, golf fans deserve a few days of Sergio Garcia playing in front of hostile New York crowds–assuming Donald deems the state of Sergio’s game–or his Ryder Cup history–justification enough for the pick.

Melton: Hatton and Rahm need to be on the team for the Euros to put out their most competitive team, but I’m not as sold on Segio. He’s still playing some decent golf, but as the European team showed last summer, they’ve got lots of young talent they can lean on. Perhaps he will be a part of the team as an assistant captain? 

Dethier: Rahm will be there. Hatton will be there. Sergio has been playing pretty well on LIV (and played well at Pinehurst) so it’s not out of the question. I’m not sure which other LIV pros would be in contention on the European side — Paul Casey? Richard Bland?!? — but to Sens’ point, if Garcia was upset with the unregulated crowds at Open Championship qualifying this summer, Bethpage would be a fascinating cauldron to drop him into…

Speaking of the Ryder Cup, U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley, who used to sneak on Bethpage Black while in college, said he expects the New York crowd to cheer “proudly and loudly.” He said he wants it to be a tough place to play for both teams but, ’nobody on either team wants this to get uncomfortable or weird out there.” What kind of atmosphere do you expect on Long Island?

Sens: Sorry, but that’s like saying, we’re going to hold a rabbit convention in a python pit but we’re really hoping there are no injuries or hurt feelings. 

Melton: It’s going to be rowdy and hostile for the Euros. New York sports fans aren’t especially kind to opposing teams, and the Ryder Cup will be no different. Expect lots of jeers and heckling from outside the ropes — and a few ejections, too.

Dethier: I expect the atmosphere to get both uncomfortable and weird. As we saw last fall, the European fans don’t have much restraint — but they definitely have more than their Long Island counterparts. It’s going to be glorious and, at least a couple times, over the top.

Nearly two weeks after the event concluded, we’re still hearing about the Tom Kim cursing controversy from the Presidents Cup. This time, U.S. team member Wyndham Clark offered his take of the events on “The Loop” podcast. Is this sort of chippiness a story or is this helping to legitimize the rivalry at the Presidents Cup?

Sens: It is trivial, junior high stuff, which in today’s world, makes it headline news. But it could only legitimize a ‘rivalry’ if there were a rivalry to begin with. That can’t be the case when one side pretty much always beats up on the other.  The Presidents Cup isn’t a rivalry. It’s an abusive relationship.

Melton: Feels like a bit of a nothingburger. In sports, sometimes there’s a little trash talk — and that’s ok! No need to relitigate the tiniest disagreement.

Dethier: I think it’s a story just because clearly both sides still feel something about it. This will be, in some ways, the enduring legacy of this year’s Presidents Cup — ramped-up emotions on both sides. There may not be full-on bad blood, but things were a little tense leaving Montreal. That’s not a bad thing.

The PGA Tour visited Black Desert Resort in Irvins, Utah — not far from Zion National Park — for the inaugural Black Desert Championship this week where tktkt did such and such a thing. Should the PGA Tour be looking for more of these unique venues in exotic locales?

Sens: Sure. In moderation. Variety is good, especially when it provides a breather from the cookie-cutter courses that have become so common on Tour. And if it gets more people to visit Zion, all the better. What a park! 

Melton: The pictures and videos I saw were pretty sweet, and it’s nice to see the Tour visit some unconventional locales. I wouldn’t mind seeing more variety in the locations the Tour goes to. Lord knows there are a few tourneys on the calendar that could use a shakeup. 

Dethier: I don’t think the Tour needs to specifically chase after exotic locales, but some outside-the-box thinking is more than welcome. And I do think this week’s Utah stop was a pretty perfect choice for a fall event; it looked and played great and it felt distinctly different than a garden-variety parkland country club. I expect relatively dismal ratings, but hopefully, once Cowboys-Lions became a blowout a few of you flipped over to Golf Channel to see the red rocks and epic vistas of Black Desert (and one of golf’s hottest players, Matt McCarty). Now if we could just get the Tour to stop by Boston, and Chicago, and Seattle…