RORY: LET’S LEARN TO LIV AND LET LIVE

RORY MCILROY says “it sucks” that he can take on LIV stars only in the Majors.

And the week before the Masters, the world No.2 (above) said the split in golf is “not sustainable” but fears a peace deal is not close.

The four-time Major winner has gone from a fierce critic of the Saudi breakaway league to publicly calling for the two warring sides to be reunited.

Tiger Woods and the five other player members on the PGA Tour Policy Board flew to the Bahamas last month for talks with Newcastle chairman and PIF boss Yasir Al-rumayyan. But a permanent agreement has still to be reached and only 13 LIV players – including defending champion and world No.3 Jon Rahm – will tee up in Augusta next week. There were 18 last year.

And Mcilroy said: “It sucks as a competitor that I only get to see and compete against some of those guys four times a year. They do have some of the best players in the world who are playing some really good golf.

“To not see the very best players in the world together more often is a shame for the overall game of golf and for fans.

“There needs to be a correction. What’s happening is not sustainable so something needs to happen to try to bring it all back together.

“We’re probably still quite a long way from unifying the game but I would hope going forward that we can get there and get the best players back together again.”

Guy Kinnings, who was once Colin Montgomerie’s manager, officially replaced Keith Pelley as the new CEO of the European Tour Group yesterday and will play a central role in the negotiations.

Mcilroy will tee up in the Valero Texas Open this week before making his 16th attempt to win the Masters next week. It will be his 10th bid to complete his career Grand Slam.

He finished second at the Dubai Invitational and then won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January but his best finish in five PGA Tour starts this season is T19.

Mcilroy, who is approaching the 10th anniversary of his last Major win, said: “My Major play has definitely improved a bit over the last few years. Seven of the last eight I’ve finished in the top 10 and I’ve had a couple of really good chances in there as well. It’s getting close. We’ve got four really good venues for the Majors this year and I’m excited for that as well.”