Rory McIlroy has broken his silence as he prepares to appear in an exhibition match against LIV Golf stars but refuted his participation is a ‘message’
Rory McIlroy explained his inclusion in a mixed PGA Tour and LIV Golf exhibition match (
Image: (Image: Getty))
Rory McIlroy has said that his participation in an exhibition against LIV Golf stars isn’t attempting to send a message.
The Northern Irishman confirmed last week that will play in an exhibition match at an undetermined golf course in Las Vegas alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler against LIV Golf League’s Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka in December.
Last week the event was announced amid officials from the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund prepared to meet in New York to continue talks about potential investment that could bring the sport back together. However, McIlroy was adamant that the upcoming exhibition isn’t a message about mending fractures.
“I wouldn’t say it’s meant to send a message,” McIlroy said. “It’s more we wanted to do something that, I guess, all golf fans could get excited about. You’ve got the best player in the world. You’ve got two guys in Bryson and Brooks that have won majors in the last two years. I haven’t done what those guys have done the last couple years, but I’ve definitely been, I feel, one of the best players in the world.”
The pairing of the PGA and LIV players is one of the only times throughout the year that the golfers from different circuits will have the chance to go up against each other. Apart from the four majors, LIV players were suspended by the PGA and can’t compete in the organisations events.
Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka will represent LIV Golf ( Getty Images)
“It’s a way to show golf fans in the world that this is what could happen or these are the possibilities going forward,” McIlroy said on the line-up. “I’ve been saying this for a long time: I think golf and golf fans get to see us together more than four times a year.
“I think that’s what we’ve tried to do. It’s in the middle of December. There’s not a lot going on in the game of golf, so [we’re] trying to get people excited about something before the season starts again. I think we all thought it was a good idea and something that hopefully is a sign of things to come in the future.”
McIlroy was asked about his knowledge of the talks given his position as a member of a PGA Enterprises transactional subcommittee, working with the Saudis and fellow golfers Tiger Woods and Adam Scott but the 35-year-old insisted that he was unaware of any progress.
“I don’t know much about the talks that are going on. I know that there is but that’s not something that I’m a part of,” McIlroy said. “Yeah, I mean, I think we are all in the game of golf trying to look for a solution to all this and try to move forward. So we’ll see, yeah. I know as much as you do at this point, and I’m sure news will start to trickle out here in the next few days.”
