Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has spoken out after the news of a merger between rivals LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. McIlroy was one of several golfers blindsided by the announcement on Tuesday, which brings to an end an ongoing feud and legal battle.
An outspoken critic of LIV Golf, McIlroy revealed that he knew of discussions that were taking place between the two rival tours. The 34-year-old was, however, surprised at the speed in which a deal was reached and did not expect the announcement.
The four-time major champion said: “I learned about it pretty much at the same time everyone else did. Yeah it was a surprise but I knew there had been discussion going on. I knew lines of communications were open.
“When I look at the bigger picture and I look ten years down the line, I think this will be good for the game of golf.”
When asked about LIV Golf’s defectors, he said: “There still has to be actions. The people who left the PGA Tour… we can’t just let them back in. It’s hard not to feel like I was a sacrificial lamb.”
He also stated: “I hate LIV. I hope that it goes away”. However, when asked about how he feels in regards to the Saudi influence in golf, he said: “I’ve come to terms with it.’ ‘I’ve resigned myself to the fact that this is what’s going to happen.”
Shortly after the annoucement on Tuesday, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan hosted a players’ meeting at the Canadian Open to discuss the news. Golfers were able to have their say on the news during the meeting, as well as ask any questions.
During the heated meeting an anonymous player told Golf Channel: “He [McIlroy] only responded to Grayson (Murray) when Grayson was going off on tangents, outbursts, saying like, ‘We don’t trust you, Jay! You should resign right now! You lied to our face!’
“I forget exactly what led to this, but Rory goes, ‘Just play better, Grayson,’ and that got a bad response from the crowd.” The report claims ‘two sources’ heard fellow golfer Murray respond to McIlroy’s comments by telling him to ‘f*** off’.
McIlroy has been one of golf’s most outspoken stars against the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour. In an interview ahead of the PGA Championship at Wentworth, in which 18 LIV golf members played, McIlroy said: “Look, my opinion is they [LIV golfers] shouldn’t be here.
“They have been paid a lot of money to go and play on a different tour that is trying to buy the game of professional golf, and they are taking places away from players who really need spots this week.”
On the other side of the coin LIV Golf member Phil Mickelson reacted in delight to the news, tweeting: ‘Awesome day today [sic]’.
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