Page 16 - aruba-today-20240201
P. 16
A16 SPORTS
Thursday 1 February 2024
Rory McIlroy says the PGA Tour is cheapened without LIV Golf
players. He doesn’t want them punished
By DOUG FERGUSON should be a punishment.
AP Golf Writer Obviously, I’ve changed
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) my tune on that because I
— Rory McIlroy wants golf see where golf is and I see
put back together again that having a diminished
as quickly as possible, say- PGA Tour and having a
ing Tuesday that even win- diminished LIV Tour or any-
ning one of the PGA Tour’s thing else is bad for both
signature events would parties.
feel cheapened because “It would be much better
it didn’t have all the best being together and mov-
players in the world. ing forward together for
McIlroy also said he would the good of the game.
be opposed to any form That’s my opinion of it. So
of punishment for players to me, the faster that we
who left the tour for the can all get back together
Saudi riches of LIV Golf and and start to play and start
wanted to come back. to have the strongest fields
“I think it’s hard to punish possible, I think, is great for
people,” McIlroy said at Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with his trophy after he won the final round of the Hero golf.”
the AT&T Pebble Beach Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. Pebble Beach has a $20
Pro-Am. “I don’t think there Associated Press million purse as a signature
event, the same for the
individual play of LIV Golf
when it begins its third year
on Friday in Mexico.
LIV announced Tyrrell Hat-
ton is the latest PGA Tour
member to join, having
snagged Masters cham-
pion Jon Rahm nearly
two months ago. McIlroy
played in the Ryder Cup
with both.
Pebble Beach has 45 of
the top 50 in the world —
the other five are with LIV
Golf, which does not get
world ranking points —
and is one of eight signa-
ture events with $20 million
purses.
McIlroy, who previously
has played the Pebble
Beach tournament only
once, was asked if a victo-
ry would feel cheapened
without players like Rahm
and past Pebble Beach
winner Dustin Johnson in
the field.
“Yeah, I’d like to win here
and stand up with a trophy
on 18 green and know that
I’ve beaten all of the best
players in the world,” he
said.
“So, yeah.”
McIlroy had said he was
comfortable that Rahm
would not be leaving for
LIV when the rumors first
surfaced.
He also said he has been
talking to Hatton over the
last month after the Eng-
lishman started receiving
offers.q
