Rory McIlroy's concerns eased as PGA Championship creeps closer

Rory McIlroy and his European colleagues have had their concerns eased as the PGA Tour announced it will give its backing to the DP World Tour.

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp verbally committed that the competition will remain in place through to 2032.

Rolapp's comments were delivered at Quail Hollow last week, with McIlroy notably present in the audience when he made the pledge.

The Northern Irishman has long championed the European circuit and previously indicated he might reduce his American schedule.

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As golf's most prominent attraction, McIlroy's satisfaction appears to be a priority for the PGA Tour leadership, according to The Telegraph.

The assurances come amid growing uncertainty about the future of professional golf following Saudi Arabia's decision to withdraw funding from LIV Golf.

Ian Poulter warned that the DP World Tour could face collapse if LIV Golf folds following the Saudis' exit from the sport.

The Englishman's concerns are shared by many who fear what professional golf may look like after LIV.

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The threat posed by a well-funded global competitor was understood to be the primary motivation behind the PGA Tour's decision to forge its partnership with the European circuit in the first place.

The strategic alliance established in 2021 has already cost the American tour hundreds of millions of dollars.

Initially, the PGA Tour invested $85million (£62.8m) to acquire a 15 per cent stake in European Tour Productions, the DP World Tour's media division, before expanding that holding to 40 per cent.

Additionally, the Americans guaranteed that prize money for individual European events would not drop below $3m (£2.2m), with the resulting shortfall climbing into tens of millions annually.

However, the partnership terms are currently being renegotiated and will likely shift to benefit the US side more heavily.

Should LIV Golf fail to secure the investment necessary to continue beyond this season following the Public Investment Fund's withdrawal, the DP World Tour could attract a remarkable roster of talent from 2027.

Stars including Tyrrell Hatton, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm would need to earn their way back onto the PGA Tour through the European circuit's money list.

McIlroy welcomed the prospect of the stars returning to the DP World Tour circuit.

He said: "I don't know, but maybe this means that they go play the DP World Tour, because that's a pathway [to the PGA Tour].

"That would make the DP World Tour stronger, and I would be delighted with that."

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