Rory McIlroy made arguably his most damning comment yet about LIV Golf after the first round of the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club
Rory McIlroy compounded his dislike for LIV Golf by threatening retirement if the breakaway tour became his last option to play golf.
According to multiple reports, McIlroy gave a short, sharp answer when asked about the prospect of owning a LIV Golf team – a proposal suggested by LIV in the framework agreement with the PGA Tour.
“If LIV Golf was the last place on Earth to play golf, I would retire. That’s how I feel about it. I’d play the majors, but I’d be pretty comfortable,” McIlroy said after the first round of the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club.
Shortly after the PGA Tour’s alliance with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund was announced last month, McIlroy said he “hated” LIV and expected it to go away.
In the document released by a US Senate Subcommittee, one proposal suggested both McIlroy and Woods would own LIV Golf teams and play in 10 LIV events, while players from Greg Norman’s roster would have their tour memberships re-instated as part of the agreement.
The idea of not retaining Norman as the LIV CEO was included, something McIlroy and Woods have previously called for. The 34-year-old hasn’t given any further comments on the US Senate hearing on Tuesday at this stage.
McIlroy has been a vocal supporter of the tour since the inception of LIV Golf in June, 2022, but when the alliance between the US circuit and Saud Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund was revealed, he compared himself to a sacrificial lamb.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan stepped aside from his duties on June 14 in a medical situation, but the 53-year-old is set to return on July 17 – the first day of Open week at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
Seven-time tour winner Xander Schauffele spoke of the trust issues Monahan could face upon his return, as the tour’s CEO had been so vehemently opposed to LIV Golf and its prime investor in the last months.
“Obviously he had some health issues,” he said. “I’m glad that he said he’s feeling much better. But yeah, I’d say he has a lot of tough questions to answer in his return, and yeah, I don’t trust people easily.”
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