Rory McIlroy admitted he was “surprised” and also had “mixed emotions” but also declared there was not way he could welcome back those rebel LIV golfers, as that was not going to happen in addresseing the news that the bitter war between the PGA Tour DP World Tour against LIV Golf that has now ended.
The four-time majors-winning put himself as the unofficial PGA Tour spokesperson seemingly on matters LIV Golf related, so much so, we heard more from McIlroy than PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan, though that all changed yesterday.
So much for taking on that unofficial role as McIlroy was kept in the dark by Monahan just as every other PGA Tour member was of the historic men’s golf news.
Rory McIlroy speaking ahead of his defence of this week’s RBC Canadian Open title
“It was a surprise, I knew there had been discussions going on in the background but I didn’t expect it to happen as quickly as it did,” McIlroy said in a press conference ahead of his defence of this week’s RBC Canadian Open in suburban Toronto.
McIlroy added: “I gather the PGA Tour felt they were in a real position of strength coming off the DP World Tour winning their legal case in London; it weakened the other side’s position.
“I think ultimately when I try to remove myself from the situation and try to look at the bigger picture and I look 10 years down the line, I think ultimately it’s going to be good for the game of professional golf.
“It unifies it and secures its financial future. There’s mixed emotions in there as well.
“I don’t understand all the intricacies of what’s going on. There is a lot of ambiguity, a lot to still be thrashed out but at least it means the litigation goes away, which has been a massive burden for everyone and we can start to work toward some kind of way of unifying the game at the elite level.”
While there was loud calls at last night’s hurried called players meeting in Toronto for Monahan to stand down, McIlroy said he still enjoyed confidence in Monahan, and despite news golfer Grayson Murray stood-up at the meeting calling for the Commissioner to fall on his sword.
“I’ve dealt with Jay a lot closer than a lot of those guys have and from where we were a couple of weeks ago to where we are today, I think the future of the PGA Tour looks brighter as a whole,” responded McIlroy.
“What that looks like for individual players in keeping a Tour card, bringing players back into the fold, that’s where the anger comes from.
“I understand that and there still has to be consequences to actions. The people that left the PGA Tour irreparably harmed this Tour, started litigation against it.
“We can’t just welcome them back in. That’s not going to happen. That’s what Jay was trying to get across yesterday.”
And McIlroy confirmed any notion he was ever approached by LIV, but say he felt like a “sacrificial lamb” after effectively becoming the public face of the PGA Tour.
Asked if those who did turn down massive offers should be compensated, he said: “The simple answer is yes. The complex answer is how does that happen? That’s all up in the air at the minute.
“It’s hard for me to not sit up here and feel somewhat like a sacrificial lamb and feeling like I’ve put myself out there and this is what happens.
“Again, removing myself from the situation, I see how this is better for the game of golf, there’s no denying it. For me as an individual, there’s just going to have to be conversations that are had.”
McIlroy reveals his early Monday morning discussion with PGA Tour Board member and Seminole Golf Club chief Jimmy Dunne.
Initially in his interview, McIlroy revealed how he became aware of the news that now has reportedly ended the biggest controversy ever in men’s professional golf, and that was via a phone call from PGA Tour board member and Seminole Golf Club chief, Jimmy Dunne.
And with Dunne using a golfing analogy in describing the seemingly only path forward for the PGA Tour.
“Yeah, so I got a text message on Monday night, I guess. From Jimmy Dunne. Saying, Hey can I give you a call in the morning. So I said sure. Jimmy rang me at about 6:30 yesterday morning. We had a chat. Took me through the news. Took me through the deal, structure of the deal. What it meant for us. What it meant for the DP World Tour.
“So, yeah, I learned about it pretty much at the same time everyone else did. And, yeah, it was a surprise. I knew there had been discussions going on in the background. I knew that lines of communication had been opened up. I obviously didn’t expect it to happen as quickly as it did. But I really think that, you know, from what I gather, the TOUR felt they were in a real position of strength coming off of the back of the DP World Tour winning their legal case in London. It sort of weakened the other side’s position.
“And they went in there, and the way Jimmy described it, Rory, sometimes you got 280 over water, you just got to go for it. And that’s what they did. I think ultimately, when I try to remove myself from the situation and I look at the bigger picture and I look at 10 years down the line, I think ultimately this is going to be, it’s going to be good for the game of professional golf. I think it secures the — it unifies it and it secures its financial future.”
Then in a last question to end a 3,700 transcript, McIlroy was asked of the events a day earlier with reports from the hastily-called players meeting of being verbally abused by American Grayson Murray, who directed the ‘F’ word at McIlroy.
“Look, it was heated. People were surprised. People felt like they were in the dark about all this. Look, most of the gripes come from the guys that are, you know, trying to hold onto their cards”, said McIlroy.
“And they feel like things have already been taken away from them this year with the designated events and smaller fields and no cuts and weighted FedExCup points for the larger events with the stronger fields. So they were already feeling somewhat vulnerable.
“Then, whenever this news is brought about, there’s only going to be one reaction to that. And I understand that. And, honestly, it’s hard for me to relate to those guys, because I’ve never been in that position. I try to empathize with it, but it’s hard for me to — it’s hard for me to relate to them fully, but I certainly empathize with their point of view”.
