Jordan Spieth CONFIRMS he and other PGA Tour directors including Tiger Woods are being ‘encouraged’ to meet Saudi PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan as talks go on over end to golf’s civil war

Jordan Spieth has confirmed that he and other PGA Tour executives are being encouraged to meet with the head of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, as talks over a possible end to golf’s civil war “accelerate.”

Spieth is one of six player directors of the new PGA Tour Enterprises, joining Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Adam Scott and Webb Simpson.

Spieth spoke after round two of The Players at TPC Sawgrass, a few days after PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said negotiations for a merger with the PIF were “accelerating.”

“We are encouraged to possibly meet them one day,” the three-time champion said. “We probably feel like our members need to know what the timing is and what could happen.”

Spieth said he believes the entire board should meet with the PIF if a deal is made.

Talks involving PIF boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan ‘accelerating’ over possible end to Gulf split

“Maybe it’s just a meeting,” he added. “But we’re obviously encouraged, which I think is probably a good thing if the entire board would do that if there’s any opportunity for negotiation.”

Spieth also downplayed his apparent disagreements with Rory McIlroy during the first round of The Players on Thursday. An eight-minute delay followed after McIlroy pulled a drive into the left into the water as the Northern Irishman appeared to be debating with Spieth, his playing partner, over the correct location for his drop.

Spieth appeared to wonder if McIlroy’s drive had rebounded before crossing the red danger marker. That would have sent McIlroy 250 yards back up the course to a spot in front of the tee box for his third shot.

“I was just listening to Rory and Viktor (Hovland)’s conversation,” Spieth insisted. “Rory had said, ‘We think it was crossed up there, it could have been over there, so this seems somewhere in between.’ “But that sounds like something you should probably verify with a rules official, and then he did it, and it was all good.”

Spieth was heard suggesting that eyewitnesses had told him the ball had bounced on the wrong side of the line.

Rory McIlroy hit a drive into the water on the seventh hole, leading to a lengthy delay

“You’re not really supposed to use someone on the outside to say it, but I heard from TV members, so I told him as we walked off the tee that they had said that,” Spieth insisted.

‘I thought it was important to say that honestly… they said it was definitely a hit above, Rory and (McIlroy’s caddy) Harry (Diamond). So I thought, “Why don’t you just make sure they get it.”’

Spieth added: “I think all anyone wants is to put the ball where it’s supposed to be, and in our sport, especially on a golf course like this… you get situations where it can be very difficult. just to be sure.” Spieth missed the cut at TPC Sawgrass after finishing round two two over par.