Rory McIlroy is over all the golf infighting.
On Tuesday, the Irish star said he’s against any form of punishment for players who defected to Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
“I find it challenging to impose punishments,” McIlroy expressed during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. “I don’t believe there should be any form of punishment. However, my perspective has changed as I now understand the impact it has on golf. A weakened PGA Tour or any other tour would be detrimental to both parties involved.
“It would be much more beneficial for us to come together and progress as a united front for the betterment of the game. That’s my personal opinion. Therefore, the sooner we can reunite and have the strongest fields possible, the better it is for golf.”
This weekend, LIV Golf will commence its 2024 season at Mayakoba in Mexico, resulting in the absence of the world’s top players competing alongside each other.
“Some players chose to participate in LIV, while others decided to stay on the PGA Tour,” McIlroy stated on Tuesday. “If individuals still have eligibility on this tour and wish to return and play, or if they want to explore other opportunities, they should be allowed to come back.”
McIlory’s second attempt at Pebble Beach will be missing five of the top 50 golfers globally, as LIV players are not eligible for world ranking points.
For McIlroy, winning without players like Jon Rahm and Dustin Johnson wouldn’t feel the same.
“Yeah, it would be great to win here and proudly hold the trophy on the 18th green, knowing that I’ve triumphed over all the best players in the world,” he expressed.
Additionally, Tyrell Hatton, who signed a lucrative $63 million deal with LIV to join Rahm’s team, will not be present at Pebble Beach.
McIlroy mentioned that he had a conversation with Hatton on Sunday and fully understood his decision.
He revealed that they had discussed it extensively over the past month, and eventually reached a point where Hatton felt comfortable with his choice. McIlroy emphasized that he would never stand in the way of someone making money, especially if it could be life-changing for them.
In relation to his own involvement, McIlroy recently stepped down from his board position as part of the PGA Tour’s negotiations with the Saudi Public Investment Fund and Strategic Sports Group. This consortium consists of sports franchise owners.
The merger between the PGA and LIV was announced in June, but the negotiations have extended beyond the New Year’s Eve deadline. Strategic Sports Group is on the verge of securing a $3 billion investment, which could value the newly formed for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises at approximately $12 billion.
McIlroy expressed his belief that this matter could have been resolved months ago. He emphasized the importance of finding a way out of the situation and moving forward as soon as possible, for the benefit of everyone involved.
Leave a Reply