Rory McIlroy hopes Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau match can bring LIV Golf merger closer

Rory McIlroy has reiterated his desire for a unified men's professional golf scene, encompassing both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf . He hopes that his forthcoming match with Scottie Scheffler against Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau will contribute to this goal.

The sport has been divided since the fallout between the two circuits in 2022. A year after LIV's inaugural event, which resulted in players being banned from the PGA Tour for participating, it seemed that the rival factions had finally brokered peace.

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan unveiled plans for a framework agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), signaling an end to the dispute between the two competitors.

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However, more than 15 months after Monahan's surprising announcement, negotiations are still ongoing, with no deal yet finalized. The delay has led to mounting frustration among players and fans, prompting some to take action.

Last week, it was confirmed that McIlroy and Scheffler would face off against Koepka and DeChambeau in a PGA Tour vs LIV spin-off later this year.

Ahead of his participation in this week's Irish Open, McIlroy discussed the upcoming match and expanded on his vision for a united sport. "I think for the players it is a way to capitalize everything that is going on," he told ITV News at Royal County Down.

"In a way, hopefully it is a sign for things to come. I have been beating this drum for the last year that for golf to be as strong as it can be, we need all the best players competing against each other more often, and not just four times a year at the majors.

"If this match can sort of help along the way in trying to get people back together and to get the best to play against each other more often, then hopefully that is a good thing. "

McIlroy, who was initially one of LIV's most vocal critics during the breakaway league's early stages, has since softened his stance since the start of the new year. Last November, he first voiced his support for the proposed 'merger', telling CNBC: "I feel like we've got a fractured competitive landscape right now and I would prefer if everyone sort of got back into the same boat.

"I would hope when we go through this process, the PIF are the ones that are involved in the framework agreement. Obviously, there's been other suitors that have been involved and offering their services and their help. But hopefully, when this is all said and done, I sincerely hope that the PIF are involved and we can bring the game of golf back together."

Earlier this year, the champion of four major tournaments reiterated his position, urging those brokering the deal to expedite the process and get the agreement 'over and done with'.