In a Tuesday interview from the RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, Rory McIlroy addressed a rumor that mentioned he might be heading to LIV Golf.
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If there was ever any likelihood Rory McIlroy would go away the PGA Tour for a profitable contract with LIV Golf, he might need put an finish to that risk with one transient interview Tuesday.
Chatting with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis on-site at this week’s RBC Heritage on Hilton Head Island, S.C., McIlroy denied a latest rumor that he was considering a transfer to LIV Golf. Metropolis AM, a London-based monetary paper, reported on Monday, citing unnamed sources, that “McIlroy is near becoming a member of LIV Golf.”
McIlroy addressed it at Harbour City.
“I actually don’t know the way this stuff get began,” McIlroy advised Lewis. “I’ve by no means been provided a quantity from LIV, and I’ve by no means contemplated going to LIV. Once more, I feel I’ve made it clear over the previous two years that I don’t assume it’s one thing for me. Doesn’t imply I choose folks that have went and performed over there. I feel one of many issues that I’ve realized over the previous two years is that individuals could make their very own choices for no matter they assume is greatest for themselves, and who’re we to guage them for that. However personally for me, my future is right here on the PGA Tour, and it’s by no means been any totally different.”
McIlroy has lengthy been one of many PGA Tour’s largest defenders and LIV critics because the start-up league got here to fruition a pair years in the past, though he felt blindsided when the 2 sides introduced final June they had been engaged on a merger.
“It’s arduous for me to not sit up right here and really feel like a sacrificial lamb,” mentioned McIlroy, lower than 24 hours after the deal was made. “[I’m] feeling like I’ve put myself on the market and that is what occurs.”
Within the time because the merger — which continues to be pending — McIlroy has softened his stance on LIV, at the very least publicly. Two of his 2023 Ryder Cup teammates, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, joined LIV for the 2024 season.
In an look on Gary Neville’s The Overlap just a few months in the past, McIlroy known as it “a wise enterprise transfer from Jon.”
“It’s opportunistic,” McIlroy advised Neville. “I feel he sees that issues will come again collectively and he’s in a fortunate place. There’s not one individual that wouldn’t need him on our Ryder Cup crew due to how good he’s, so he was in an important place the place there wasn’t a ton of threat concerned for him to go. I’ve bought no downside with him going if that’s what he desires to do and he thinks that’s the correct resolution for him and his household. Who am I to say any totally different at this level?”
On Tuesday, McIlroy added he’s unsure the place the latest rumor a few PGA Tour departure began, however over the previous few months he’s discovered to maintain an open thoughts.
“I’m positive there’s been gamers who’re nonetheless taking part in on the PGA Tour which have talked to the blokes from LIV and had provides and no matter,” he mentioned. “However I do not know [where the rumor started]. It’s by no means even been a dialog for us. It’s a type of issues, it’s unlucky that we now have to cope with it and that is the state that our recreation is in, however yeah, I’m clearly right here right now and I’m taking part in the PGA Tour occasion subsequent week and I’ll play the PGA Tour for the remainder of my profession.”
McIlroy is paired with one other Ryder Cup teammate, Ludvig Aberg, for the primary two rounds of the RBC Heritage, which is likely one of the Tour’s big-money Signature Occasions. Aberg is coming off a runner-up end in his main debut on the Masters; McIlroy was T22 at Augusta. They tee off at 1:40 p.m. ET on Thursday and 10:30 a.m. on Friday.
