LIV Golf star Cameron Smith overhead key PGA Tour merger updates

Cameron Smith weighed in on the drawn-out discussions between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), following last June's unexpected revelation of a preliminary framework agreement.

The PGA Tour has been actively negotiating with PIF since they announced their potential resolution to mend ties with LIV Golf . Smith, who famously defected from the tour to join LIV Golf two years earlier, found himself among high-profile players like Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm, facing bans from the PGA Tour due to their allegiance to LIV.

Yet, there's optimism that the ongoing deal negotiations might lead to a breakthrough where athletes could freely compete across both tours. Earlier this week, Smith hinted he usually avoids the business dynamics of golf but confirmed that "merger" discussions are a frequent topic in conversations with the 15 LIV team captains.

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"We definitely have some meetings between the players and captains fairly frequently where it's often brought up," Smith reported to Fox Sports regarding the negotiation process. "I don't like to get caught up in that side of the game, but judging from what we've heard and what has been happening that everyone is aware of is kind of a step in the right direction and hopefully they can keep that ball rolling."

"It's a really big process that everyone underestimates how big it was going to be. It's taking some time but I feel like there are some positive things happening."

Last week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship served as a pivotal junction for associates from both sides of the negotiation table. During the Pro-Am tournament, 14 LIV Golfers crossed paths onto the DP World Tour, marking a significant convergence as PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan and LIV Golf CEO Yasir Al-Rumayyan both graced the event.

Noteworthy is that Monahan and Al-Rumayyan did not just make appearances they were notably grouped together for the opening round.

While the event largely focused on the play rather than negotiations, the interactions between Monahan and Al-Rumayyan were amicable all week. Also on the course was PGA Tour stalwart Rory McIlroy, who paired up with Al-Rumayyan on the event's second day.

Finding himself frequently at the heart of conversations surrounding the clash between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, McIlroy continues his involvement as part of the PGA Tour's advisory committee during talks with the PIF. Giving an update from Scotland last week, the four-time major champ suggested: "Maybe it's going too slow for the people that follow golf."

"In the business world, deals of this size take time. You are talking about billions of dollars changing hands, different jurisdictions. I think we'll know a lot more by year's end. We're in October so hopefully three months to get something done."