GOLF
Rory McIlroy apologizes to LIV: “They are part of our sport”
Long seen as the face of opposition to the Saudi golfing circuit, Rory now says that he regrets his overly radical stance. “It was a mistake on my part.”
The world of golf has been mired in a constant series of seismic shocks following the earthquake created by the inception of LIV Golf. Both sides had their intransigents and apologists, but the most belligerent of voices against the Saudi-backed circuit was Rory McIlroy.
The Ulsterman, number two in the world rankings, has been the harshest of critics toward LIV, staunchly defending the PGA Tour, and radically opposing any player who dared to desert the North American circuit. The vitriol went so far as to end friendships with golfers such as Sergio García, who called McIlroy on his stance.
Now, in a shocking turn of events, McIlroy has issued a mea culpa, apologizing to the organization that he painted as public enemy number one not so very long ago.
“I think, at this point, I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys that went to LIV Golf at the start, and I think that was a little bit of a mistake on my part because now I realize that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Woods’ position,” McIlroy explained on the Stick to Football podcast. To give context to how surprising these statements are, just six months ago the Northern Irishman stated that “if LIV were the only place to play golf in the world, I would prefer to retire.”
Rory’s stance initially began to soften after the signing of Jon Rahm to LIV, which led to McIlroy asking for some future understanding to come into effect so that the Spaniard could continue to play in the Ryder Cup.
“We all turn professionals to make a living playing the sports that we do, and I think that’s what I realised over the last two years. I can’t judge people for making that decision,” commented a much more understanding Rory McIlroy with the rival PGA Tour circuit.
“I’ve gone through the last two years with this altruistic approach where I’ve looked at the world the way I’ve wanted to see it. Ultimately, you can say what you want, but at the end of the day, you’re not going to be able to change people’s minds. You’re never going to make them decide based on what you say. I wouldn’t say I’ve lost the fight against LIV, but I’ve just accepted the fact that this is part of our sport now. Competition is good and helps improve the sport of golf in general.”
One of the most active soldiers in this war between the PGA and PIF seems to have raised the white flag. “You will never win a fight if you go with money for money, we have already seen other sports in which no one spends money like the Saudis. I have realized that if you have people in a sovereign public fund spending money on your sport, that in the end is a good thing. But you want them to spend it in a good way and on things that are important to them. sport. Instead of giving someone $100 million, why don’t you invest $50 million in a grassroots program for The Royal and Ancient Golf Club or the United States Golf Association (USGA) so that you can help grow the game and not just spend it trying to buy talent?”
The hatchet would seem to be well and truly buried on McIlroy’s part. Over the summer, he even resumed contact with Sergio García. The Spaniard says, “I feel like I have that friend back.”
He still carries a bugbear for those who sign for LIV and then “talk trash” about the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. “I don’t hold a grudge against anyone for leaving, taking the money and doing something different, but don’t try to burn the place down when you leave. I think it creates this division that, hopefully, will end soon because I think it is also the best for golf.”
This is without question the most peaceful Rory McIlroy that we have seen in the past two years.