Rory McIlroy believes Donald Trump is “on the PGA Tour’s side” in its ongoing dispute with rival tour LIV Golf having discussed the topic while playing golf with the US President prior to his inauguration.

Speaking before the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, the Northern Irishman said Trump had told him that he did not like LIV’s 54-hole format.

Trump met with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and player director Adam Scott last week as the organisation seeks help in talks with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which funds LIV.

The PGA Tour has been in protracted negotiations with PIF in an attempt to heal the split in world golf.

“The President, he can do a lot of things,” McIlroy said. “He has direct access to Yasir [Al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF]’s boss [Mohammed bin Salman]. Not many people have that.

“Not many people can say, ‘I want you to get this deal done and by the way, I’m speaking to your boss, I’m going to tell him the same thing’.

“He [Trump] can be influential. I saw it when I was playing with Sheikh Hamdan of Abu Dhabi [on] the day [Trump] got elected in November. I don’t think people appreciate how much respect he has [in the Middle East].

“Whenever he says something, they listen and I think that’s a big thing.”

McIlroy said he had played golf with Trump “a few weeks ago” and had “a good discussion”.

“I learnt that he’s not a fan of the LIV format,” McIlroy said, adding that he put it to the President that he had hosted LIV events.

“He was like, ‘yeah, but it doesn’t mean that I like it’, so I think he’s on the Tour’s side,” McIlroy added.

McIlroy has been a staunch opponent of LIV Golf in recent years but believes it is time for golf to unify.

“Whether you stayed on the PGA Tour or left, we have all benefited from this,” the world number three said.

“I’ve been on the record saying this a lot. We’re playing for a 20 million dollar prize fund this week [and] that would have never happened if LIV hadn’t come around.

“I think everyone’s just got to get over it and we all have to say ‘okay, this is the starting point and we move forward’. We don’t look to the past.

“Whatever’s happened has happened. How we all come back together and move forward, that’s the best thing for everyone.”

LIV Golf started in 2022 and, lured by huge signing on fees and prize funds, several top players moved from the PGA Tour circuit, including Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia.