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McIlroy softens LIV stance: Saudi billions can ‘ultimately be a good thing’ for the sport

Published

2 years ago

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In what appears quite a turnaround, Rory McIlroy appears to have softened his stance on the row between the LIV Golf Series and the PGA and DP World tours, calling for talks between the warring sides.

Not long ago, the 33-year-old called the LIV players “duplicitous” with reference to the way he saw them say one thing yet perform in another fashion, and has also been reported as falling out with former good friend Sergio Garcia with regard to the Spaniard’s outbursts against the more traditional tours.

Speaking to BBC NI, the four-time major winner said, “Look, there’s so much chat about where the money’s coming from and Saudi and everything else, look they sponsor so many other things and they’re all over sport.”

Acknowledging the Saudi money that has been invested into other sports, he continued, “Aramco are big sponsors of Formula One, the Aramco Ladies Series in golf, which has actually been really good for the ladies in terms of big prize funds and so on, so I understand people’s reservations with everything.”

While recognizing the potential benefits, he has some reservations.

“But at the same time, if these people are serious about investing billions of dollars into golf, I think ultimately that’s a good thing.

“But it has to be done the right way and I think if they were to invest, having it be invested inside the existing structures.

“And I think that’s the thing I have tried to advocate for the last few months, I think at this point if people are wanting to spend that much money into golf that’s wonderful, I just wish that we could have spent that much money within the structure that has existed for many decades in golf instead of being a big disruptor.”

The disruption Rory refers to has seemed to continue well into the week of the Scottish Open, a traditional warm-up event for the main event, and this week taking place with 14 of the top-15 in the world rankings teeing it up. Ironically the one player missing is the recent Canadian Open champion.

Earlier this week, confirmed LIV player Ian Poulter was the beneficiary of a hearing against the DP World Tour sanction that fined and banned LIV players from the event at The Renaissance Club this week, whilst Billy Horschel has come out with some strong anti-LIV rhetoric, telling players to be honest about why they have left the PGA Tour.

Recognized as a spokesman for the history of the sport, McIlroy continued.

“I wish it hadn’t have got that messy and in hindsight I think there were probably steps that were missed that wouldn’t have made it that messy,” he said.

“But I said this back at the very start in 2020, I think in the long term it will make the game better because I think it will force the tours to adapt and change and make the product better, and focus on maybe the fan engagement side of things and focus on maybe some stuff that they’ve been neglecting over the years.

“I think in the long term it will sort itself out, as everything else does, it will, and I think ultimately it will make the game, and the game of professional golf, a better place.”

In contrast to reports about the ill-feeling towards all those that have jumped ship, McIlroy states, “I think defection is a strong word. I understand why guys have went, especially the guys that are sort of in the latter stages of their career and if I was in their position, I’d seriously have to think about doing the same thing.

“It’s the younger guys to me that I find hard to understand because they’re losing years of their competitive career for monetary reasons. We all make decisions for different purposes. That’s fine. It’s different to what I’d do.

“Is there resentment? I played in Ryder Cup teams with these guys. Is there a difference of opinion? Yes. There is a difference of opinion and I would have done things differently.

“I think at this stage if you go and play on a different tour, then go and play on a different tour. I think having your cake and eating is the resentment that’s within the membership.

“Because there’s only 48 players on this tour, so not every so not everyone’s going to get an opportunity to go and play. You’re leaving all your peers behind to go and make money, which is fine.

“Just go over there, don’t try and come back and play over here again. That’s the tricky part and that’s where the resentment is coming from. For me, I don’t resent anyone. These guys are my friends, regardless of the decisions they make.”

The current world number 3 continues his preparation for next week’s historic 150th Open Championship, held at St. Andrews, the ‘Home of Golf’, and an event that he won in 2014 at Royal Liverpool.

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19th Hole

Brandel Chamblee has a surprising new take on the PGA Tour-LIV stand-off

Published

1 day ago

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May 10, 2024

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One of the more outspoken analysts throughout the LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour saga has been Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee.

This week, Chamblee reversed course, saying he believes the PGA Tour should strike a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Private Investment Fund (PIF).

“The PGA Tour is in this pickle like it or not, but, do you want to compete with someone who’s not going to go away, who can outspend you”.

“Every move they make that makes their tour better deletes your tour and causes more division within the tour. So the time is now, to Rory’s point about making a deal, I wouldn’t have said that a year ago… but it is the better end of the bargain.”

Chamblee’s new stance seems to be in line with that of Rory McIlroy, who reportedly wanted to rejoin the PGA Tour board with hopes of pushing a deal with the PIF closer to the finish line.

Chamblee will be in the booth for next week’s PGA Championship which has 16 LIV players in the field.

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19th Hole

Xander Schauffele explains free drop ruling during round one of Wells Fargo Championship

Published

2 days ago

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May 10, 2024

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During Thursday’s opening round of the Wells Fargo Championship, Xander Schauffele blasted his tee shot in the woods to the right of the fairway on the par-4 8th hole.

The ball was almost not found, but Xander’s group managed to track it down just before the three-minute time limit was reached.

When the ball was found, it was just beyond the penalty area close to a fence. In the moment, it seemed incredibly unlikely that Schauffele would be able to hit the ball through the trees towards the green.

However, through the woods and above the fairway, there was a hanging wire from a ShotLink tower that Xander claimed was in his way. He was then granted relief, and two club lengths from the spot positioned him all the way out of trouble. He played his ball onto the front of the green and two-putted for par.

Here is the full video of the interaction between Schauffele and the rules official.

After the round, Xander said he “got really lucky.”

“Got really lucky multiple times, on 1 with Wyndham finding it, 2, being able to move the rocks, and 3, the ShotLink tower being in like my only shot line possible. To walk out there with sort of a no breeze 4 with what I thought was almost out was a really good break.”

“Yeah, I hit it in the trees. My ball was probably like a foot, two feet from the fence. If I — ball was here, fence was kind of here, hitting back this direction.

“If I went towards the green, the fence kind of worked this way so I had what I could hit, a 4-iron or something low and just kind of run it through. If it gets stuck, I’ll just kind of hit my next one out. But I brought the rules official in there with me because I was like, you’ve got to be OK with this because this is literally the only shot I can hit.”

“So Austin [Kaiser] and I moved two massive rocks that weren’t embedded and then I got relief out of the junk and then hit a pretty good shot on the green from there. What was a very stressful moment turned into a pretty stressless par.”

Schauffele finished the round at seven under, which gives him a three-shot lead going into Friday’s second round.

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19th Hole

Report: Tiger Woods voted against Rory McIlroy returning to policy board; Will be the only player negotiating directly with Saudis

Published

3 days ago

on

May 9, 2024

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According to a report from The Telegraph, the relationship between Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy has soured.

Last week, reports surfaced that McIlroy, who was a member of the PGA Tour policy board during most of the past few years, was looking to rejoin the board, presumably taking Webb Simpson’s seat.

However, on Wednesday, McIlroy revealed that he will not be rejoining the policy board, due to people on the board being “uncomfortable” with that “for some reason.”

The Telegraph has reported that Tiger Woods was among the players who voted against McIlroy returning to the policy board.

The divide is apparently due to McIlroy pushing for the game of golf to unify, whereas Woods, reportedly, believes the PGA Tour is in a fine position where it currently stands.

The Associated Press added another wrinkle to the situation, reporting that Woods is the only player who will be negotiating directly with the Saudis.

The other members of the committee are PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, board chairman Joe Gorder, John W. Henry of Fenway Sports Group, and Joe Ogilvie, who was a former PGA Tour player.

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