Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have backed R&A’s decision to drop Greg Norman from the 150th celebrations at The Open, saying the LIV Tour of Australia with Saudi support is not good for golf.
Key points:
- Greg Norman said his omission of events around the 150th anniversary of The Open was “mesca”
- Rory McIlroy said he “supported” the decision
- McIlroy said he wouldn’t mind anyone winning the Claret Jug, no matter what tour they played.
The executive and face director of LIV Golf, Norman’s invitation to the Champions Celebration Event on Monday and the Champions Dinner on Tuesday night before the Milestone Open was revoked.
Norman, who won the Open in 1986 and 1993, called the decision “petty.”
“I’m disappointed. I would have thought that R&A would have stayed above all given its position in world golf,” Norman told Australian Golf Digest magazine.
But heavyweights Woods and McIlroy insist R&A got it right.
“Greg has done some things that I don’t think are in the best interest of the game,” Woods said Tuesday.
McIlroy, one of the most vocal advocates of the PGA Tour and firmly against Norman’s rebel organization, agreed.
“It’s the 150th Open Championship and that’s what we need to focus on. I think the focus would have been a bit off if I had been here,” McIlroy said.
“I supported that decision, and I think right now, for everything that is happening in the golf world.
“But if things change in the future or whatever happens who knows, but I could see a day when I will definitely be welcome again.
Rory McIlroy said he wanted to focus on The 150th anniversary of The Open. (Getty Images: David Davies / PA Images)
“But right now, with everything that’s going on, we want to focus on the 150th Open Championship and that’s a celebration of a wonderful golf tournament and a wonderful game overall, and I think that was the right decision. for that. “
This week’s Open features six grand champions who have deserted golf LIV: Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Louis Oosthuizen, who won the Open in St Andrews in 2010.
McIlroy said he “selfishly” expected any player supporting the controversial Shark tour to win the Claret Jug.
“I think it would be better for the match [if they didn’t]”Said the four-time big winner.
“But in the end, everyone who is here has the same opportunity to go out and try to win a Claret Jug, no matter what tour they play or whatever.
“Whoever wins here at the end of the week should be praised for one of the biggest hits this game has to offer.
“I will not upset anyone if they win the Claret Jug and play on a different tour than I do.
“This is still a wonderful achievement, and they continue to do the same sport.
“But I selfishly want that person to be me, and I’ll do my best to make that happen.”
AAP
Posted 2 hours ago Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 2:27 PM, updated 1 hour, 1 hours ago, Tuesday, July 12, 2022 at 3:08 PM