GOLF MERGER'S 2 HURDLES

Mcllroy says US Department of Justice and players' interests are deal's stumbling blocks

Rory McIlroy claims the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the rift between players on both sides of golf's civil war pose the biggest threats to a peace deal.

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls the controversial LIV Golf events, have been engaged in talks since 2023 in a bid to resolve the damaging row.

Northern Ireland star McIlroy welcomed the optimism about finally agreeing a deal which emerged from the latest discussions in New York last week.

But the four-time Major winner knows any deal will be subject to scrutiny from the DOJ, which in 2023 forced a non-solicitation clause to be removed from the framework agreement.

The clause would have prohibited the poaching of players from other tours therefore in theory limiting the integrity of the labour market and stifling competition for players.