Rory McIlroy confirms billionaire worth £10.7bn taking action to fix PGA and LIV Golf feud

Rory McIlroy has revealed South African businessman Johann Rupert is trying to broker a peace deal between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Rupert, who runs the Dunhill Links Championship that McIlroy is playing in this week, is widely regarded to be Africa's richest person.

With a reported net worth of £10.7billion, the 74-year-old controls luxury goods firm Richemont.

And along with McIlroy, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings have all accepted invites to the tournament in Scotland.

It is the first time the trio have met since the Saudi backed venture was launched in the summer of 2022, with crucial talks over a potential merger expected to take place. And the Northern Irishman praised the efforts of Rupert in trying to get all parties to enter negotiations.

"I think what Johann Rupert, the man who runs this event, is trying to do is just bring the golf world back together a little bit," he said. "If we need to be forced together in some way, he's trying to do that. I think it will be good. It's certainly a step in the right direction."

Rupert is no stranger to investing in sport. In 1990, the former cricketer created the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and previously owned a 50 per cent stake in English rugby union side Saracens.

He also serves as chairman of the South African PGA Tour and chairman of the South African Golf Development Board, and famously helped create the Gary Player designed Leopard Creek Golf Club course in Mpumalanga. And McIlroy, 35, even praised the businessman for invting a large LIV contingent to his event.

"There's no better place than the home of golf to try and get everyone together and talking," he added. "And obviously you've got quite a big contingent over from LIV that are playing in this event."

In an intriguing development, Monahan and Al-Rumayyan have been drawn in the same group on Thursday, with the Ryder Cup star saying: "I think it's a great thing and good sign that Jay and Yasir are going to play together."

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