Tour chief apologises over Saudi talks on 9/11 anniversary

The new man in charge of the DP World Tour has apologised to 9/11 families after meeting with Saudi officials in New York on the anniversary of the terror attacks.

Guy Kinnings, the chief executive of the European Tour Group, was Stateside last week for negotiations with the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) – LIV Golf’s benefactors – over a peace deal to unite the sport.

The timing of these talks in, however, caused widespread anger in New York City and beyond. Fifteen of the 19 terrorists involved in the September 11 attacks were from Saudi Arabia but the Saudi government has always denied any involvement.

Terry Eagleson, the 9/11 Justice president who lost his father in the attacks, described the talks as “disgusting and unacceptable.”

• PGA of America makes decision on LIV golfers in Ryder Cup

• Local residents slam proposed Scottish golf resort

Rory McIlroy, a member of the PGA Tour’s ‘transaction’ committee but not present in the meetings, said at last week’s Irish Open that “it’s certainly peculiar timing.”

Kinnings was told that it ‘does not look good.’

“No, absolutely right. The point is that, unfortunately, we didn’t set the time frame and we didn’t set the agenda,” he replied, as quoted by the Mirror.

“From my perspective, I have only the absolute deepest sympathy and empathy for those families. We were called to a meeting which, I don’t think we spotted the dates, and we were trying to do the best thing for the game of golf. But there is a bigger picture for the families.

• Brooks Koepka leads 14 LIV stars making DP World Tour return

• A PGA Tour winner is rejecting the LIV deal. Here’s why.

“I was there, I watched a number of the ceremonies, and all you feel is sympathy and empathy for the families. There was no intent in the meeting to show any disrespect – I don’t think it was intentional at all. The intention was to do the right thing for the sport but if anyone felt upset by that, then of course I apologise to them because I only feel deepest sympathy to those people.”

As things stand, the PGA and DP World Tour are still operating independently from the breakaway LIV circuit, which no signs of a peace deal being imminent.

Speaking ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, this week, McIlroy said the US Department of Justice and reticence from both sides was holding up the truce.

“I’d say maybe half the players on LIV want the deal to get done, half probably don’t,” McIlroy said. I’d say it’s probably similar on the PGA Tour. Because just like anything, everyone’s looking out for themselves and their best interests.”