Rory McIlroy stirs up LIV Olympics controversy, criticizes quality of Saudi League field
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy is gearing up to win gold at the Paris Olympics, but several stars of the LIV Golf Tour failed to qualify for the event. McIlroy’s public criticism of LIV Golf has reignited feuds with golfers who have left the circuit…
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy is set to mount a challenge for a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. But several stars of the LIV Golf Tour failed to qualify for the event. McIlroy, who has been a vocal critic of LIV Golf, criticized the standard of play on the LIV course, reigniting a feud with golfers who left to join the Saudi-backed tour.
McIlroy, 35, has always spoken out against the Saudi-backed separatist team, which attracts many big-name players drawn by lucrative events and big salaries. Despite this, McIlroy believes the quality of play on LIV Golf pales in comparison to the PGA Tour. He also suggested that players who joined LIV could now struggle to qualify for prestigious competitions such as the Olympics because of their decision. Asked if the absence of the world’s best players would negatively impact the Olympic golf competition, McIlroy was blunt: “I mean, it’s hard to compare their golf to ours, so I don’t think there’s any other way to look at it. So that’s why I didn’t get any world ranking points, right? McIlroy told reporters. And he explained: Just like if you wanted to qualify for the Ryder Cup, you knew what you had to do. They were very conscious of the decision they made when they made it.
McIlroy’s comments highlight the ongoing tension between traditional tournaments such as the PGA and the new LIV Golf, highlighting the consequences faced by players who choose the latter option.