LIV Golf has had many critics since it entered the professional golf scene but perhaps none louder than PGA Tour golfer Rory McIlroy.
However, McIlroy softened his tone in March, saying that LIV’s emergence “benefitted” the men’s game and forced the PGA Tour to make some innovations and changes, though he added that the PGA remains the “best place to play golf.”
The PGA Tour announced that some of its big events will start to have no cuts and smaller fields in 2024, which is similar to how LIV runs its tournaments.
LIV CEO Greg Norman took some delight in pointing out how McIlroy has changed his tune somewhat in regard to the Saudi-backed league.
“He [McIlroy] is starting to see that this is not an exhibition match or a clinic like he said in the past – this is real,” Norman said in a recent interview with the BBC.
“These guys are competitors. They want to win and Rory’s no different so I’m glad Rory’s starting to maybe see the light a little bit. I’m glad Rory’s recognized that LIV has truly identified how antiquated the PGA Tour was.
“I’m glad Rory’s recognizing that LIV has been a leader in trying to get the PGA Tour to follow us. Why have we done that? Because of the players.”
We’ll see if Rory feels like a response is in order soon enough.
[BBC]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.