Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, the world’s top-10, took a stand Wednesday against the new Saudi-backed golf league (LIV), calling it a “disgrace” for the sport.
The Northern Irishman and the American were speaking on the eve of the first round of the RBC Canadian Open, counting for the PGA Tour and the first tournament of the LIV Golf League, which also begins Thursday in London, with a nice board.
“It’s shameful that this league is about to fracture our sport,” said McIlroy, a former world No. 1 winner of several Majors.
“Professional golf is the showcase of our sport. If the public is disturbed to the point of not knowing who is playing where and what tournament is taking place this week, the confusion will grow,” he added.
The new series will offer $25 million in winnings per event, eight times a year.
Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Sergio Garcia have already announced their participation in London.
Other major winners, such as Patrick Reed and Bryson DeChambeau, may join them in July for the debut of LIV Golf in the United States.
“It’s a shame if these guys (one day) are no longer part of the PGA Tour,” added Justin Thomas, winner last month of his second PGA Championship.
Referring without citing the sanctions already announced but not specified by the supreme body of American and world golf.
The PGA Tour “has been around for a very long time,” said Thomas, one of Tiger Woods’ best friends on tour.
According to some American media, the Tiger would have refused a crazy sum offered to him by LIV Golf, whose general manager is the former Australian champion Greg Norman.
Five of the top ten players in the world will compete in the Canadian Open this week, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, winner of the last Masters:
“Nothing has changed here; we have the best players in the world. I don’t know what’s going on there (in London),” Scheffler joked.
- People Also Read: DeChambeau and Reed would leave the PGA in turn
