Rory McIlroy might live to regret his previous comments on Donald Trump after suggesting that his return to the White House could bring peace between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
The two organisations are in talks over a resolution to the split in golf but are yet to reach an agreement. Trump, meanwhile, insisted earlier this month that he could broker a peace deal within minutes and resolve the situation himself.
McIlroy recently welcomed the idea of Trump getting involved, saying after his election victory: "Given what's happened, I think that clears the way a little bit. We'll see. He might be able to.
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"He's got Elon Musk, who I think is the smartest man in the world, beside him. We might be able to do something if we can get Musk involved, too. I think, from the outside looking in, it's probably a little less complicated than it actually is.
"Trump has a great relationship with Saudi Arabia. He's got a great relationship with golf. He's a lover of golf. So, maybe. Who knows? But I think as the president of the United States, he's probably got bigger things to focus on than golf."
McIlroy has not always been so open to working with Trump, having previously stated that he would never play golf with him again following his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2017, the 35-year-old met Trump at one of his golf courses and said on the McKellar Golf Podcast that it was an enjoyable day in spite of their differing beliefs.
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"I will sit here and say that day I had with him I enjoyed," said McIlroy. "But that doesn’t mean I agree with everything or, in fact, anything that he says."
McIlroy went on to accuse Trump of using the pandemic to score political points by insisting the USA had administered more tests for COVID-19 than any other country.
"There's some stuff that just is terrible, it's not the way a leader should act," he added. "There is a bit of diplomacy that you need to show and I just don't think he's showing that, especially in these times."
Asked if he would be open to playing another round with Trump, McIlroy replied: "I don't know if he'd want to play with me again after what I just said. I know it's very self-serving of me to say no.
"If I don't, then it means I'm not putting myself in position to be under scrutiny and that I'm avoiding that. But no, I wouldn't."
