Rory McIlroy has been one of the most outspoken critics of Golf LIV over the past year, when the sport experienced a massive split following the departure of big names from the PGA Tour to LIV.
Even now, with the two tours joining forces in a historic deal, McIlroy is shooting LIV.
Rory McIlroy on the fifth hole during the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 13, 2023 in the UK. (Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
“If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on Earth I would retire, that’s how I feel about it,” he said at the Genesis Scottish Open on Thursday, according to the Golf Channel. “I would play in the majors, but I would feel quite comfortable [not playing].”
McIlroy’s statement was in response to the proposal reported by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) to make McIlroy and tiger forest owners of a LIV Golf team, by Golf Channel.
GOLF’S TOP PROS XANDER SCHAUFFELE AND JORDAN SPIETH SAY PGA TOUR COMMISSIONER JAY MONAHAN HAS TO REBUILD TRUST
The proposal came to light during Tuesday’s Senate hearings with the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and the tour “quickly rejected” the idea of Woods and McIlroy joining LIV Golf, according to ESPN.
The PGA Tour, PIF and DP World Tour reached an agreement in June with the goal of “unifying the game of golf globally.”
Xander Schauffele shakes hands with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan after the Sentry Tournament of Champions on January 6, 2019 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
The merger came less than a year after PGA Tour commissioner jay monahan he said any potential truce with rival Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit was “off the table”.
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Monahan’s reversal has caused some members of the PGA tour lose confidence in the commissioner, according to Xander Schauffele.
“I would say he has a lot of difficult questions to answer on his return,” Schauffele said at the Scottish Open. “And yes, I don’t trust people easily. He had my trust, and now he has a lot less.”
Three-time Grand Slam winner Jordan Speith also weighed in, saying “based on conversations” Monahan will need to rebuild trust with the players.
Rory McIlroy reacts on the 17th green during the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 13, 2023. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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McIlroy was asked about Speith and Schauffele’s comments, saying he can understand where they were coming from.
“I wasn’t as in the dark as some of the other guys, but people were surprised by that and obviously I can understand why Jordan [Spieth] and Xander [Schauffele] and a lot of the other guys would feel that way,” McIlroy said Thursday. “After everything that has happened in the last few weeks, players will find themselves more at the table to try to get whatever they want. .”
Paulina Dedaj and Chantz Martin of Fox News contributed to this report
