Rory McIlroy said the main sticking points holding up a deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi backers of the rival LIV Golf circuit are the U.S. Department of Justice and conflicting views from players on both sides.

Rory McIlroy may not have been in attendance for the in-person meetings between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund last week in New York, but he still knows more than most when it comes to the slowly progressing potential deal between the tour and LIV Golf's financial backers.

The DOJ and "different interests from the players' side" are holding up negotiations, McIlroy said, adding that there is still optimism in the process.

While the battle lines between LIV Golf and the rest of the sport have become less pronounced, Rory McIlroy questioned whether LIV-affiliated golfers

Ryder Cup regulations set forth by the DP World Tour and in-season familiarity with players would be glaring issues