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Rory McIlroy says he believes it may be time to tell the PGA Tour and LIV Golf that “the game is tearing itself apart.”
The Saudi-backed LIV Invitational series and highly criticized McIlroy and He worked with Tiger Woods behind the scenes to help the PGA Tour develop a stronger and more profitable plan through 2023.“The ball is in their court,” he said Wednesday in St. Andrews, Scotland.
World number two McIlroy admits it is difficult to move forward due to two related charges. Many LIV players have taken action on the PGA Tour on antitrust grounds.. Another legal issue allowed LIV players who are members of the DP World Tour to compete on that circuit until it was resolved in February.
But McIlroy, 33, said he believes LIV Golf participants deserve world-class points and is not opposed to competing in major championships, but LIV Golf is “making their own rules.”
two weeks ago, A group of 50 LIV players sent a letter to Peter Dawson, chairman of the Official World Golf Ranking.“Any week that passes without the inclusion of LIV athletes would undermine the historical value of the OWGR,” urging the team to quickly consider its application for world ranking points.
OWGR does not comment on the process, though it can take several months, if not at least a year, for an application to be approved.
“If Dustin Johnson is 100th in the world, it’s not a true reflection of where he is in the game,” McIlroy told reporters at this week’s Dunhill Links Championship, a DP World Tour event at three courses in Scotland — The Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
But at the same time, you can’t make your own rules. There are standards out there, everyone knows what they are and if you want to pivot to meet that standard you can. I have no problem with getting rank points but you have to meet the criteria. If not, it’s hard to justify why you should have them.”
LIV Golf acknowledges that it does not check all the boxes in the OWGR criteria, including 14. Part of the OWGR mandate, however; An organization can award points without meeting the criteria – or even be denied.
The biggest weaknesses for the LIV are the lack of a 36-hole cut in the 54-hole events, the small field of 48 players and the unclear qualification path for the LIV events. Next year, the LIV Golf League will have 48 players on 12 four-man teams, almost all of whom are selected.
There are plans for a “promotion event” next year, but no clear weekly qualification system. LIV Golf is underwriting the International Series, which features 10 major events that serve as a mini feeder tour and give LIV the ability to claim that the full field of 72-hole events is part of the tour.
“I always say there’s a time and place for everyone to sit down and work together,” McIlroy said. “It’s very difficult to do court cases these days. There’s a natural timeline to getting things resolved. A little bit further down. People can go into those meetings with a cool head.”
Last month at the Tourism Championship. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has indicated that he is not interested in any discussions with LIV Golf. And for LIV golfers, there may not be a way back on tour this time around.
“I’ll remind you that when I come back, we’re on a charge, as it relates to any LIV players’ situation,” Monahan said. “They agree with us. I don’t think it makes much sense to talk about any speculation at this point.”
The emergence of LIV Golf has made for a difficult year. Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson took a four-month hiatus in February due to issues related to his anti-PGA Tour comments, then signed with LIV for a major guarantee to play for the next several years.
Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia are among the other players who have signed multi-year deals with LIV.
The 2022 schedule is eight races. It will continue with an event in Bangkok next week. on tuesday, LIV Golf has announced plans to restructure its team event at the end of the season in Doral, Oct. 28-30, in part to clear the way for televising the event in anticipation of a long-term deal with a broadcast partner.
“I don’t want a broken game,” McIlroy said. “The game of golf is tearing itself apart and it’s not good for anybody. It’s not good for men on the other side of the traditional system.
“With everything now, maybe it’s not the right time, but we can’t leave it too much. I’m all for going around the table and sorting things out.”
