PGA star Rory McIlroy “still hates LIV” and he “would like to make it go away”, but the Northern Irishman said on Wednesday he believes the merger of the two circuits would be beneficial in the long term. Golf.
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“I heard the news around the same time as everyone else,” McIlroy said at a press conference on the sidelines of the Canadian Open, which is taking place this weekend.
“It was a surprise,” he continued. I knew there were discussions going on backstage. I knew a line of communication was open. But I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.
A winner of 23 PGA titles and four majors, McIlroy has been one of the most vocal defenders on the tour since several golfers left him to join LIV last year.
“It’s the money that speaks”
McIlroy also said he welcomes the unification of the two leagues because it will secure the financial future of golf.
“If I look at the big picture and think about the future ten years from now, I think it’s going to be good for professional golf. […] We can start to find a way to unify golf.”
The 34-year-old golfer also believes it’s better for the PGA to have the Saudi Investment Fund (PIF) on their side, not on the “enemy” side. It is this fund that provides billions of dollars in financial support to the LIV, and its contribution has been criticized since the circle’s inception, particularly over the administration of human rights in Saudi Arabia.
The PIF becomes one of the main sponsors of the PGA. “Ultimately, it’s the money that does the talking and it’s better to have it as a partner.”
“No one is perfect,” says DeChambeau
Golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who was one of the first to make the jump with LIV Golf, looked pretty bad during an interview with CNN on Tuesday, especially when it came to Saudi Arabia.
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Bryson DeChambeau
A few hours after the merger of the two professional associations PGA and LIV, the mighty thug was invited to speak in more detail about the Saudi context.
During the interview with the American television channel, DeChambeau was therefore asked about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. Moderator Kaitlan Collins asked him if he was “uncomfortable” that the Middle East country was “accused of financing terrorism”.
“No one is perfect,” he replied.
“Look, it’s unfortunate what happened, but I can’t talk about it because I’m just a golfer,” he also said.
2,500 victim families criticize the merger
On Tuesday, a group made up of about 2,500 family members of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks released a statement criticizing the merger. The golfer tried to deflect the question.
“I don’t think we’ll ever be able to repay families for exactly what happened a little over 20 years ago,” DeChambeau said. What happened is really terrible. I think over 20 years have passed and now we have come to a point where it is time to work together to make things better.”
–With the QMI agency