Taking shots at the integrity of golfers who made the move from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf has become a sport all its own. Now, Rory McIlroy, who has taken some pretty harsh shots at departing golfers, appears to be softening his stance.
McIlroy has been one of the league’s biggest critics, calling the enterprise a “failed endeavor” before it started and chastising those who decided to put money ahead of morals by playing for the Saudi-backed league. He then took a shot at LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman after passing him on the PGA Tour wins list. He later reiterated his support for the PGA Tour and lamented the way that LIV Golf money isn’t “earned” in the same way.
Now, however, it sounds as though Rory has gotten it out of his system and is ready to start “peace talks” and move forward.
Rory switched up fast 😂😂😂
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) July 6, 2022
“That needs to happen,” McIlroy told BBC Northern Ireland. “It’s unfortunate. It’s messy. I wish it hadn’t got that messy.”
“At the end of the day it will sort itself out,” he continued. “Everyone has to pivot and change and try to be better and hopefully get to that stage but as you said now it’s messy and all the narrative isn’t good; it’s splitting the game instead of everyone coming together. I think everyone needs to come together a little bit more.”
McIlroy even admitted that he is appreciative of the money that Saudi Arabia is investing in golf, but he wishes it was being done differently.
“I understand people’s reservations with things but at the same time, if these people are serious about investing billions of dollars into golf, I think ultimately that’s a good thing but it has to be done the right way,” McIlroy said. “I think if they were to invest, having it be invested inside the existing structures. That’s the thing I’ve tried to advocate for over the last few months.”
