Rory McIlroy says he would retire before joining the breakaway LIV Golf tour after it emerged he had been offered a franchise in the Saudi-backed project.
On Tuesday, a US Senate subcommittee met to look into a plan for a merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund. The merger would end a legal battle between the two tours that had been going on since the start of LIV.
Documents from the hearing showed that Tiger Woods and McIlroy would play in 10 LIV events if they agreed to sign up. This was in addition to being offered franchises.
“If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on earth, I would retire,” said McIlroy, after his six under par first round at the Scottish Open on Thursday.
“That’s how I feel about it. I would play the majors, but I’d be pretty comfortable.”
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has been criticised by a number of top players who stayed with the tour for not giving them enough information before they signed a framework agreement.
McIlroy has been a strong supporter of the PGA Tour, and he didn’t criticise Monahan again, even though he will be back at work on July 17 after being out for a month because of a health problem.
“I’ve read a quote that they (the PGA Tour) were negotiating their survival. That’s a very fair thing for a business to do,” added McIlroy.
“I’m just apathetic towards all the noise around it. The thing I’ve realised, no matter what I do or say, or try to show leadership, I’m going to be just fine.
“I’ve tried to step up for maybe the guys that didn’t have a voice early on, but I think with everything that’s transpired over the last few weeks, the players are going to find themselves more and more at the table to try to get whatever it is that they want out of it.”
McIlroy’s first round score of 64 put him three shots behind the leader. He had an eagle and six birdies.
An Byeong-hun of South Korea shot a perfect 61, which tied the course record at the Renaissance Club.
Davis Riley, an American, is in second place with seven under.
“It’s a really good start,” McIlroy said. “I’ve not had particularly great results around this course the last couple of times but I feel like my game is definitely in better shape now.
“I feel like I’m coming in here playing really good golf, producing good results and getting myself in contention and I’m just really trying to do the same things and adapt to the different conditions we’re going to face over the next couple of weeks.”
An had an even better day, getting nine birdies and not making any bogeys.
“I couldn’t play any better,” said the world number 131, who could secure himself a place at Hoylake by finishing in the top three players not to have already qualified.
“I drove it well, chipped it well,utted well.”
Thomas Detry of Belgium joined McIlroy in the clubhouse, where they were both on six under.
Scottie Scheffler, who is number one in the world, is back at two under.
Photo by EPA/ETIENNE LAURENT
