Rory McIlroy has fought strongly towards the LIV Golf mannequin from the start, though the day it was introduced that the PGA Tour and the PIF (Public Funding Fund of Saudi Arabia) had been negotiating the entry of the latter within the capital of the U.S. circuit, one thing modified. He even left the board of the PGA Tour.
Final January the Northern Irishman apologized to the gamers who had left for the LIV and admitted that he “judged them frivolously”.
‘Drama..a part of a cleaning soap opera’ says a nonetheless bitter McIlroy
“It was a mistake on my half as a result of not everyone seems to be in my place or Tiger Woods‘ place,” he mentioned.
Not solely that, however he additionally admitted that he had met in 2022 with Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor, to debate the way forward for golf.
“He believes that the problem of making groups in golf can actually take off and generate franchise worth in a few of these groups. I mentioned on the PGA Tour board that somebody ought to discuss to him,” Rory recounted.
Properly, final week after the third day of the Genesis, the winner of 4 majors talked about what he would love for golf and in a way it’s extra akin to a LIV-type mannequin.
“We now have to suppose internationally and increase the enterprise. I feel we must flip our heads to the southern hemisphere, in international locations like Australia or South Africa. Additionally to the Far East, to territories like Japan, Korea or China. And, clearly, the Center East as properly,” he informed the media.
Rory then proposed his perfect situation, in search of a simile with soccer: “It will be a circuit the place the very best 80 gamers on the planet can be current yearly. It will be just like the Champions League if we evaluate it to soccer. In some way it will be a circuit that may be above the remaining. All of the circuits would feed off it and it will be a chance to see the very best gamers each few years. In response to the European golfer, this might be put in place quickly if “everybody would get their act collectively.”
“We would not should load the whole lot that is there now, it will be sufficient with a few changes,” he mentioned.
