Rory McIlroy has once again hit out at the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series, pledging his support to the PGA Tour by claiming the ‘cream always rises to the top’. McIlroy was quizzed on the matter on day one of the Travelers Championship, where he carded an eight-under 62 to lead the event alongside American J.T. Potson.
The formation of the controversial breakaway circuit has seen some of McIlroy’s biggest rivals including Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau make the mega-money move. In response the PGA Tour looked to act swiftly and harshly, inflicting suspensions on all those who have chosen to make the Saudi switch.
The tour’s commissioner revealed to players in a mandatory meeting plans to implement a lucrative eight-event series into the 2023 calendar, mirroring that of their LIV Golf rivals.
A number of the Saudi League defects - most notably Phil Mickelson - outlined the way in which the tour is run by Monahan as one of the reasons for their switch. McIlroy however is more than happy with the commissioner’s plans for the sport’s flagship circuit.
He said: “I have always been comfortable with where the tour is heading. I have never doubted Jay [Monahan] and the people in charge. You know, they are doing the right things. It is so hard, you read stuff about ‘well if I was in charge I would do it like this, I would do it like that’.
“These people have no idea what it is like to run the PGA Tour, the guys in charge know what they are doing. They have had to pivot quickly, had to make some changes. Some of those changes may have had to be reactionary because of everything that has been going on.”
Despite the loss of Johnson and co, the large majority of golf’s elite have all opted to stick by the American based-circuit, with all of the world’s top 10, and 18 of the top 20 players declining a LIV Golf move. Seemingly taking a dig at the rebel players betraying the PGA Tour, McIlroy added: “I think they [tour bosses] have done a really good job.
“I think it will make the PGA Tour more competitive, more compelling and always the cream rises to the top, and that is what is going to happen.” Away from the Saudi saga, the world No. 2’s attention will be firmly on his on-course job, as he heads into this afternoon’s second round in Connecticut in a commanding spot at the top of the leaderboard.
