World No. 3 Rory McIlroy believes now second-time US President Donald Trump will have less time to focus on golf after it’s being suggested the now 47th US President’s return to the White House could go a long way also to mend the bridges in the men’s professional game.

While recently appearing on the “Let’s Go” Podcast with Jim Gray and Bill Belichick, Trump confidently boasted that he could get a deal done to end the now two-years since LIV Golf was launched.

“I do think the deal will come together,” Trump said to Gray and Belichick.

“I could certainly help it. I would say it would take me the better part of 15 minutes to get that deal done.”

The golf mad Trump is no stranger to LIV Golf and having hosted a number of LIV-backed events on courses owned by the Trump organisation.

Rory McIlroy and Donald Trump – Image Getty

Since the Saudi-backed circuit’s launch in June 2022, Trump has hosted a LIV event at one of his properties on six occasions. Trump National Doral in Miami—its renowned Blue Monster Course used to host a PGA Tour event annually from 1962 to 2016—has welcomed LIV on three occasions.

As well, Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey hosted two LIV events in 2022 and 2023 while another Trump-owned course in Virginia held the seventh tournament of the 2023 LIV Golf season, which Harold Varner III won.

And now with Trump’s return to Washington assured, McIlroy was asked ahead of this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, if the 47th President could mend the PGA Tour/LIV Golf war in 15 minutes.

“He might be able to. 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”, said McIlroy

“Yeah, I think from the outside looking in, it’s probably a little less complicated than it actually is. But obviously Trump has 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 again, he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf”.