Rory McIlroy slips ten behind Scheffler and admits frustration with glacial pace of PIF-PGA Tour talks
Rory McIlroy follows his shot from the first fairway during the first round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament. Photo: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Rory McIlroy fell further behind Scottie Scheffler after an opening 69 in the Tour Championship but sounded more concerned about the PGA TOUR and admitted he’s “frustrated” by the protracted negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
After starting the FedEx Cup finale at East Lake six shots behind the world number one, the Holywood star overcame a slow start and birdied three of his last five holes but still found himself ten shots adrift on six-under after the FedEx Cup leader birdied five of his last seven holes to shoot 65 and lead by seven.
“I’m happy with how I hung in there and had a good finish,” said McIlroy, who was tied for 10th on six-under under the staggered start, having begun the week at four-under.
“When I saw Scottie had gotten to 14 (under), I was like, oh, got to try to just hang on to the coattails a little bit. Still feel like I’ve got a chance, and it was nice to finish the way I did.”
Scheffler bogeyed the first hole, and second-ranked Xander Schauffle birdied it to leave them tied on nine-under.
But the Masters and Olympic champion, who is seeking his eighth worldwide win this year, reeled off seven birdies after that to open with a 65 that left him seven shot clear of Schauffele, who shot 70, and Collin Morikawa, who shot 66, on 16-under.
McIlroy has won the FedExCup three times and appears more concerned about the future of the PGA TOUR after Commissioner Jay Monahan said on Wednesday that there is no deadline for striking a deal with the Saudis, who also bankroll LIV Golf.
“I think anyone that cares about golf, I think has to be frustrated,” McIlroy said. “I think anyone that cares about the PGA TOUR has to be frustrated because we, the royal we, we’re not putting forward the absolute best product that we can because — I get the argument that these guys left and that was their choice and whatever.
“I just think that it’s gone on long enough. We’ve got to try to — I mean, I think everyone is trying to find a solution. It’s just a solution is hard to get to.
“I go back to — even though I was on the wrong side of things, like the US Open with Bryson and I, you’re only really going to get that four times a year at most.
“I think the game of golf deserves to have those sorts of things happen more than just four times a year.”
McIlroy won’t clash again with DeChambeau until the Masters and it’s a concern for McIlroy that the PIF may grow frustrated by the the glacial pace of the talks and change tactics.
He said: “Yeah, I think if it doesn’t happen soon, then honestly, I think PIF and the Saudis are going to have to look at alternative options, right? I think that’s probably the — I’d say that’s the next step in all this if something doesn’t get done.”
As for the tournament, where the FedEx Cup winner will take home $25 million, Scheffler looked a class apart, knocking birdies at the third and seventh to regain the solo lead before racing home in five-under 31 thanks to birdies at the 12th, 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th.
Shane Lowry, who began the week seven shots behind Scheffler on three-under, shot a 69 to share 14th on five-under, 11 shots behind the world number one.