Rory McIlroy has confirmed he is joining Tiger Woods and Adam Scott on a PGA Tour subcommittee directly involved in discussions with LIV Golf's backers.
It's been 11 months since the PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced they were in talks with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), who fund LIV, over a merger. The proposed deal could reunite golf, which has been divided since LIV launched two years ago and persuaded some of the sport's top players to leave the PGA Tour.
But an agreement is yet to be reached between all parties. McIlroy wasn't expected to be involved in talks after leaving the PGA Tour's policy board last November.
The four-time major winner was recently tipped to make a return to the policy board, which includes the likes of Woods, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth. Yet that idea proved to be "complicated" and "messy" - according to McIlroy.
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Golf Digest then reported that McIlroy and Woods' relationship has 'soured' in recent months due to their opposing views on the future of golf. It's claimed Woods was among those opposed to McIlroy rejoining the PGA Tour's policy board.
Despite this, McIlroy will play a huge role in the PGA Tour's merger talks with the PIF. Speaking at the Wells Fargo Championship on Thursday, McIlroy said: "I’m not on the board, but I’m in some way involved in that transaction committee.
"I don’t have a vote so I don’t have I guess a meaningful say in what happens in the future, but at least I feel like I can be helpful on that committee. And that was sort of a compromise for I guess not getting a board seat."
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McIlroy, who shot four-under-par in his first round at Quail Hollow, said before the ongoing tournament that there was a "subset of people on the (policy) board that were maybe uncomfortable with me coming back on for some reason".
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said McIlroy would have "important influence" on the future of the organisation before the Wells Fargo Championship started. Monahan was quizzed about McIlroy being denied the chance to rejoin the board.
"Today’s news is in no way a commentary on Rory’s important influence," Monahan said. "It’s simply a matter of adherence to our governance process by which a tour player becomes a board member."
"Webb (Simpson, who McIlroy was tipped to replace) remaining in his position as a member of the policy board and PGA Tour Enterprises board through the end of his term provides the continuity needed at this vital time.
"We are making progress in our negations with the PIF and are working as a collective - the player directors, our boards and tour management - to remain open-minded to all avenues that advance the tour in the best interest of our players, our partners and, most importantly, our fans."
It's believed McIlroy, Woods and Scott will be joined on the subcommittee by Monahan, fellow golfer Joe Ogilvie, John Henry of Strategic Sports Group (SSG) and PGA Tour Enterprises chair Joe Gorder.