Rory McIlroy, the world’s No. 3-ranked professional golfer, said the proposed partnership between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf will be good for the sport over the long run.

“Ultimately when I look at the bigger picture, 10 years down the line, this is going to be good for the game of professional golf,” McIlroy said Wednesday, according to the Irish Mirror.

At the same time, the star said of the deal, “It’s not LIV. I still hate LIV, I hate them. I hope it goes away and I fully expect that it does. That’s where the distinction is.”

McIlroy spoke at a press conference in Toronto, where he’s preparing to defend his title in the RBC Canadian Open this weekend. He is one of five players on the PGA Tour’s policy board.

(Updates with additional comments in second paragraph.)