Rory McIlroy has spoken out about Tiger Woods and PGA Tour officials reported meeting with Saudi sponsors of LIV Golf in New York a day before the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The two largest golf companies in the world have been negotiating a possible merger for over a year, and the meeting was held with the aim of finally reaching an agreement between them.
AX radaratlas2 flight tracking account discovered that private planes owned by Woods, Saudi oil and gas company Aramco and the PGA Tour landed in New York on Monday.
In response, 9/11 Justice president Brett Eagleson released a damning statement criticizing Woods for holding the meeting just one day before the anniversary of the attacks, calling it “disgusting and unacceptable.”
Although McIlroy did not criticise Woods to the same degree, the Northern Irishman was also not supportive of his fellow golfer. Reports emerged months ago about how the relationship between the two had deteriorated.
McIlroy has spoken out after it was reported that people from the PGA and LIV Tours met this week.
Woods was part of the reported meetings ahead of the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
“It’s certainly a peculiar time,” McIlroy said of the talks scheduled for Sept. 10. “I don’t know a lot about the conversations that are going on. I know there are conversations, but it’s not something I’m a part of.”
“I think we’re all in the game of golf trying to figure out a solution to all of this and trying to move forward. So we’ll see, yeah. I know as much as you do at this point, and I’m sure the news will start coming in here in the next few days.”
Fifteen of the 19 September 11 attackers were Saudis, but the Saudi government has always denied involvement in the attacks.
Eagleson, who lost his father in the South Tower at age 15, wrote: ‘Tomorrow marks the 23rd anniversary of the tragedy of 9/11, but here we are today, in New York City, just around the corner from Ground Zero, and the PGA Tour and Tiger Woods are negotiating with them.
‘As CBS News has confirmed in recent weeks, the Saudi government played a role in the horrific attacks of 9/11.
“It’s disgusting, unacceptable and incredibly hurtful for the Tour and Woods to do this, especially now.”
9/11 Justice has long accused Saudi Arabia of aiding the terrorists who carried out the attacks and has been a frequent critic of LIV Golf.
In 2022, they condemned former President Donald Trump for hosting the Saudi-backed tour at their New Jersey venue, telling him they felt “extreme pain, frustration and anger” as a result of his decision to host the tournament.
