Rory McIlroy has continued to express his frustration with golfers who have joined the LIV series, saying he has found his comments and behaviors “quite duplicate”; Brooks Koepka is the last player to come out for the runaway series
Last updated: 6/23/22 8:31 AM
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McIlroy says he was surprised by Koepka’s decision to join the LIV Invitational series, backed by Saudi Arabia
McIlroy says he was surprised by Koepka’s decision to join the LIV Invitational series, backed by Saudi Arabia
Rory McIlroy has described as “duplicates” the players who have joined the LIV Golf Series for the way they have handled their PGA Tour break.
Four-time big winner Brooks Koepka is the latest renowned player to leave the PGA Tour to join the controversial breakaway series, joining people such as Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson.
Koepka has retired from Thursday’s PGA Tour event, the Travelers Championship in Connecticut, and will compete in the second LIV event in Portland next week. The 32-year-old’s decision comes after he appeared to indicate he would not join the Tour when asked before the US Open last week.
In March, former world number 1 Johnson also highlighted his full commitment to the PGA Tour, only to make a U-turn three months later and this kind of behavior annoys McIlroy, who is part of the players’ advisory board. of the tour.
When asked if he was surprised by Koepka’s decision before it was officially announced, the Northern Irishman said, “Am I surprised? Yes, from what he said earlier.
“I think that’s why I’m surprised by a lot of these guys because they say one thing and then they do another and I don’t get it.
“I don’t know if it’s for legal reasons or if they can’t – I have no idea – but it’s quite a duplicity on their part to say one thing and then do another, in public and in private.”
Brooks Koepka has joined the LIV tour
LIV Golf later confirmed Wednesday that Koepka had joined the runaway tour and will compete at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland.
In response to Koepka’s departure, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said: “I am disappointed that Brooks Koepka has left and joined the LIV Golf series.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to him about it, and I look forward to having a conversation with him, but I won’t share anything more than that right now.
“To all the players who have left, I have great admiration and respect for the contributions they have made to the PGA Tour. And I think it has been difficult for many players to make that decision. [to leave]. “
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Scottie Scheffler says he would not change his memories of the PGA for anything soon in response to Koepka’s incorporation into the LIV invitation series
Scottie Scheffler says he would not change his memories of the PGA for anything soon in response to Koepka’s incorporation into the LIV invitation series
Scottie Scheffler was “surprised” by Koepka’s sudden move, but has made it clear that he plans to play on the PGA Tour for a long time.
“I was at a performance with him last week and (that) was definitely not what I had in mind,” said Scheffler, who currently ranks first in the world.
“We were focused on building the PGA Tour and getting the guys to stay here together and just have conversations and find out how we can help benefit the Tour. So seeing Brooks leave was definitely a surprise to us.
“That said, he’s made his decision. I’m not going to hit him to do it. He made the right decision for me and I won’t be the one to judge him for it.
“For me, it’s not where I see myself heading soon. I grew up wanting to be on the PGA Tour. I grew up dreaming of playing at these events. I didn’t grow up dreaming of playing at the Centurion Club in London or the whatever it is: I grew up wanting to play in the Masters.
“I grew up wanting to play Austin. I grew up wanting to play Colonial, Byron Nelson. I wouldn’t trade those memories for anything right now.
“These memories, for me, are invaluable. I would never risk going and losing the opportunity to return to Augusta every year or to do so. There is nothing I would like to do right now that would risk having any kind of “effects. how is my life now”.
Scottie Scheffler believes the best players in the world are on the PGA Tour
Scheffler believes the world’s best players are “still on the PGA Tour” and added: “The guys at the top of the standings last week were on the PGA Tour.
“Canada was one of the funniest events I’ve ever been to and it was my first time up there. Being able to play in front of the crowd and have those really euphoric moments where you can really make a putt to win. A tournament, how to finish the Master’s degree and becoming the world’s number one in Austin are memories that I will never, ever be able to close for a sum of money. “
The PGA Tour cannot compete with a foreign monarchy
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PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan says they cannot compete financially with the Saudi-backed LIV invitation series in a statement made before the Passenger Championship.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan says they cannot compete financially with the Saudi-backed LIV invitation series in a statement made before the Passenger Championship.
Monahan, who held a meeting with up to 100 members of the PGA Tour on Tuesday, announced a combined increase in bag size of nearly 60 million. [£48.9m] in eight PGA Tour tournaments in 2023.
He also confirmed the creation of a series of up to three international events to be played after the end of the fall calendar for the top 50 FedEx Cup players.
Monahan added: “Let me be clear. I’m not naive. If this is an arms race, and if the only weapons here are the dollar bills, the PGA Tour can’t compete with a foreign monarchy that spends billions dollars in an attempt to buy the game of golf.
“We welcome good and healthy competition. The LIV-Saudi Arabia golf league is not that. It is an irrational threat and not a concern for the return on investment for the real growth of the game.
“On the PGA Tour, our members compete for the opportunity to add their names to the history books and significant financial benefits without having to struggle with any kind of moral ambiguity.
“My reading of the situation is that this environment is disturbing and the players want to make sure that their Tour is doing everything possible to grow and evolve in the way that has brought us here.
“We must continue to be the ultimate platform for the best players in the world: a place where they want to compete to prepare for the best championships in our game. The best competing against the best in historic places with traditions, meanings and purposes.
“We’re on our way, and we’re excited about what we’ve announced today and there’s more exciting news to come. We’ll do it as a tour, as a collective, and a group of members who are absolutely behind. Their tour.” .
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World No. 4 Collin Morikawa has denied rumors that he will be following Koepka in the LIV series, as is Justin Thomas, who is out of the passenger league due to injury.
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