Rory McIlroy’s positivity over the key figures from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf meeting this week has been shot down by Rich Beem. McIlroy, 35, is currently in Scotland for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which sees amateur players compete alongside full-time professionals.
Also involved are PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who has thus far pumped more than £1.5billion into LIV.
In an intriguing twist, the two bosses will tee off together at Carnoustie on Thursday, having been paired in a group that also includes Billy Horschel and Dean Burmester.
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The two are expected to hold talks this week over a potential merger between their warring factions, with DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings also at the tournament and set to be involved. It will signify the first time the trio have come face-to-face since golf’s civil war began.
And McIlroy has lauded developments, saying: “There's no better place than the home of golf to try and get everyone together and talking. I think it's a great thing and good sign that Jay and Yasir are going to play together.”
Praising tournament chief Johann Rupert, he added: “I think what Johann, the man who runs this event, is trying to do is just bring the golf world back together a little bit. If we need to be forced together in some way, he's trying to do that. I think it will be good. It's certainly a step in the right direction."
Beem however, isn’t convinced. The former US PGA champion poured cold water on the Northern Irishman’s theory that Monahan and Al-Rumayyan playing together will prove significant in reaching a compromise over a merger.
"I don't know if we should read too much into it,” he told Sky Sports. “As Jay Monahan said everything we’re going to do is behind closed doors and we’re not going to give out any information.
“It’s just because the nature of the subject and what they must be going through on both sides. You know, there’s a lot of things legally that have to be passed and looked at. I think it’s interesting, though you kind of expected them to be paired together at some point in time.”
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The 54-year-old doesn’t envisage any on-course tension though. And he expects the pair to put their differences aside during the first 18 holes and join in the spirit of the competition.
“They’ve got to know each other quite well over the years, good or bad,” he added. “I think they’re going to go out there, have some good banter, high fiving, and I think we’re just going to see two guys out there having a lot of fun and enjoying the links.”
