Rory McIlroy regrets speaking out against LIV Golf
“My whole thing is, I’m just disappointed to what it’s done to, not to the game of golf.”
Rory McIIroy watches his tee shot on the first hole during the final round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Rory McIlroy has been very outspoken about former PGA golfers leaving the tour for LIV Golf but it seems as of now he is having a change of heart.
He now says he regrets his deep involvement in the fight between the two tours.
“In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t have gotten as deeply involved in it,” McIlroy said Wednesday at Hamilton Golf & Country Club. “I hold no grudge, I hold no resentment over the guys that chose to go and play on LIV. Everyone’s got their own decisions to make, and everyone has the right to make those decisions.”
There has been a big division among the PGA Tour and LIV Golf golfers since the defection began and McIlroy himself has a strained relationship with several former tour players.
“My whole thing is, I’m just disappointed to what it’s done to, not to the game of golf – the game of golf will be fine – but men’s professional golf and this sort of divide we have at the minute,” said McIlroy. “Hopefully, we’re on a path to sorting that out and getting that to come back together, but in hindsight I wish I hadn’t gotten as deeply involved as I have.”
The whole situation has taken its toll on him, so much so months ago he stepped away from the PGA board but when he wanted to make a return to the board earlier this year, he was blocked because of his new stance on the fight between the two tours.
One of the relationships that reportedly is strained recently is his relationship with Tiger Woods. Rumor has it that Woods, who is also a member of the PGA Board, was one of the ones who blocked him from returning despite his loyalty to the PGA.
He and Woods were paid handsomely by the PGA for their continued support of the tour and despite him denying that their relationship was strained, neither he nor Woods acknowledged each other during the PGA Championship two weeks ago at Valhalla.
Now it seems as if McIlroy has alienated not only his friend whom he has a business with but also other members of the PGA and it makes you wonder if will this push him further to join LIV Golf.
It’s quite obvious the PGA Tour is not pleased with McIlroy right now and it may take a lot for him to get back into their good graces but it sounds like he may not want that at least not right now.
But it’s quite obvious that this whole situation has taken its toll on him even though he has benefitted from his loyalty, in the end, it wasn’t worth it to him because he lost a lot of personal relationships over it, and in reflection, he is taking a step back from it all.
It doesn’t mean that he supports LIV Golf, it just means he understands why they left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf even though he doesn’t agree with it, this feud has affected the world of golf and he wants to see it end.