Rory McIlroy has been the poster boy for the PGA Tour in the battle with LIV Golf, and appears to be committed to the Tour despite one report linking him with a sensational £682m move.
Rory McIlroy, a long-standing member of the PGA Tour, has consistently shown his allegiance to the organization even after relinquishing his position as a prominent figure in the opposition to LIV Golf. It appears unlikely that this loyalty will waver.
Ever since the inception of the Saudi Arabia-funded breakaway league in 2022, McIlroy has been a vocal critic of LIV and the players who decided to take the lucrative offers to leave the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. However, after being the face of the Tour for the past two years, McIlroy dialed things down last year to concentrate on his game and achieve the career Grand Slam.
He openly revealed his decision by resigning from the PGA Tour board and exiting a WhatsApp group of Tour players, amidst the intense merger talks between PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund – supporters of LIV.
Even though he was once a strong critic of LIV, he has now shown a more lenient attitude in public. He even acknowledged his understanding when Jon Rahm, his Ryder Cup teammate, decided to leave the PGA Tour for the breakaway series in a £450million agreement. These public statements, along with some hints from his former agent Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, have sparked rumors that McIlroy might be considering a major change of heart.
On Sunday, City A.M. reported that McIlroy and LIV Golf were on the verge of finalizing a deal. If the agreement goes through, it would make McIlroy the most significant signing in the history of the breakaway series, with a staggering £672m ($850m) and a 2% ownership stake in the company.
During the Masters on Thursday, LIV Golf CEO Norman trailed McIlroy’s group as they made their way through the legendary Augusta National. Yet, when questioned after the first round about Norman’s presence, McIlroy responded, “I had no idea. I didn’t even see him.” McIlroy had arrived at Augusta National with the aspiration of achieving the career grand slam and securing the highly sought-after green jacket. Unfortunately, the World No. 2 couldn’t find his rhythm and ended the tournament with a score of one-over, once again missing out on the Masters title.
Following the discussion, McIlroy emphasized his intention to shift his attention away from the disappointment of missing out and instead concentrate on the forthcoming RBC Heritage signature event, scheduled to occur this weekend in South Carolina. He expressed, “I believe it is crucial for me to enhance my game in order to perform better throughout the rest of the season.”
I have to set aside some time to look back on the past week, evaluate my successes and areas for improvement, and strategize for the upcoming months, particularly leading up to the end of July during the busy season. With events coming up quickly, I aim to improve my performance and be in top shape for the final stretch.
McIlroy reflected on his performance at Augusta, stating that he believed his game was decent and he managed it effectively. He acknowledged that Friday was particularly challenging, with the tough conditions making it difficult to score well. The firm and crusty greens made it hard to get close to the hole, resulting in fewer birdie opportunities. Falling behind by seven or eight shots going into the weekend put him in a tough position to catch up.
McIlroy is expected to be one of the top contenders in South Carolina, facing tough competition from masters champion Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and rising star Ludvig Aberg. Unfortunately, Viktor Hovland will not be participating after a disappointing performance at the Masters.
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