Rory McIlroy joined Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, the hosts of Golf.com’s Subpar podcast, following the Tour Championship. He mentioned many issues, together with the Ryder Cup, his main championship drought, and the LIV Golf deal.
The Northern Irishman has been on the forefront of the dialog since LIV Golf started in 2021. Stoltz requested him if he would return and alter something.
“I hate that LIV fractured the sport a lot. That’s the factor for me that basically pissed me off,” McIlroy stated. “Hopefully, we are able to all get again collectively and make the skilled recreation a bit extra harmonious in order that we are able to all compete in opposition to one another extra typically as a substitute of the 4 occasions a 12 months on the main championships.”
The four-time main winner needs to play with the most effective on this planet, together with a number of the guys who left the PGA Tour.
“All I’ve ever actually wished to do is get all the most effective gamers on this planet collectively to play extra typically. I feel that’s what golf wants.
He talked about gamers like Brooks Koepka, Cam Smith, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau as guys he misses battling in opposition to.
“Like that sucks,” McIlroy stated. “It builds up majors and makes them much more vital than they already have been. I really feel like golf is in a extremely unhealthy spot if the sport’s solely related 4 occasions a 12 months. It must be extra related than that. If meaning getting us all again collectively and taking part in in opposition to each other extra typically, I’m all for that.”
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Photograph by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Photographs
The previous No. 1 participant needs golf to be much less divided.
Nevertheless, there was no point out of the varied issues which can be often introduced up relating to Saudi Arabia and sportswashing. He didn’t point out the human rights points Saudi Arabia has been accused of as one thing that bothers him.
That’s to not say that he isn’t bothered. Nevertheless it was attention-grabbing to listen to his largest gripe was solely golf associated. Contemplating how outspoken he had been since LIV Golf’s inception, it was a logical conclusion that he could be irked by the off-the-course a part of it.
Nonetheless, his thoughts stays on the expansion of the game.
“If it may be accomplished the fitting manner, and everybody can kind of get collectively once more and make the sport much less fractured, I don’t see how that’s a nasty factor,” McIlroy stated.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. You’ll be able to observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.
