Rory McIlroy eases off criticism of LIV Golf, says Jon Rahm’s move was ‘smart business’

Rory McIlroy eases off criticism of LIV Golf, says Jon Rahm’s move was ‘smart business’

Rory McIlroy has slammed LIV Golf and said Jon Rahm’s move was “smart business”.

McIlroy opposed the Saudi-backed competition from the start.

Doug Ferguson | Associated Press • Published 1 hour ago. • Updated 1 hour ago

 

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland battles Jon Rahm of Spain during the first round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia on August 24, 2023.

Rory McIlroy has gone from being LIV Golf’s harshest critic to extending an olive branch. On Wednesday, he told the English Football Podcast that he was too happy with the players’ departures and admitted that LIV was “now part of our sport”.

McIlroy also offered to help him initiate talks with Saudi sponsors of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. He said he met with the head of the National Investment Fund, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, in Dubai in late 2022. “When I got back to the States, I was on the PGA Tour and I said to the players, ‘Someone needs to talk to this guy.’ A plan was then developed for one of the council members to try to build a relationship. “We’re building it with him.” McIlroy said.

James

Not again 😭 in golf community as famous golf players were caught and being sentence to….   recent years, the global pandemic has changed a lot of things, and has me reflecting,” she said.  “It is time to slow down a little, focus more on my personal growth, and spend some time with my family.”  Feng told AFP in Tokyo it had been an honour to represent her country, for potentially the last time.  “We’re representing our own countries and we’re not playing for prize money, we’re playing for honour,” she said at Kasumigaseki Country Club, where she could not repeat her medal heroics of five years earlier, finishing eighth.  “Out of all my achievements, I would say a medal at the Olympics is very special,” said Feng, whose only major win came at the 2012 US PGA Championship.  “Even though I’ve been a major winner, think about it, we have five majors every year, in four years we have 20 chances to win a major.  ‘  “So I would say it’s harder, much harder, to get a medal at the Olympics. It was the most memorable moment of my career.”  Brought up in China’s southern Guangdong province, neighbouring Hong Kong, an 18-year-old Feng became the first Chinese player to earn an LPGA tour card in 2007.  The easy-going Feng went on to be the first Chinese player, man or woman, to win a major and lifted 10 LPGA titles during her 14 active years on the tour.  In 2017, Feng became the only Chinese golfer to date to reach the world No 1 ranking.  During a supremely consistent career, Feng registered 18 top-10 finishes in majors, two of them in 2021 even as she was winding down her playing commitments.

Not again 😭 in golf community as famous golf players were caught and being sentence to…. recent years, the global pandemic has changed a lot of things, and has me reflecting,” she said. “It is time to slow down a little, focus more on my personal growth, and spend some time with my family.” Feng told AFP in Tokyo it had been an honour to represent her country, for potentially the last time. “We’re representing our own countries and we’re not playing for prize money, we’re playing for honour,” she said at Kasumigaseki Country Club, where she could not repeat her medal heroics of five years earlier, finishing eighth. “Out of all my achievements, I would say a medal at the Olympics is very special,” said Feng, whose only major win came at the 2012 US PGA Championship. “Even though I’ve been a major winner, think about it, we have five majors every year, in four years we have 20 chances to win a major. ‘ “So I would say it’s harder, much harder, to get a medal at the Olympics. It was the most memorable moment of my career.” Brought up in China’s southern Guangdong province, neighbouring Hong Kong, an 18-year-old Feng became the first Chinese player to earn an LPGA tour card in 2007. The easy-going Feng went on to be the first Chinese player, man or woman, to win a major and lifted 10 LPGA titles during her 14 active years on the tour. In 2017, Feng became the only Chinese golfer to date to reach the world No 1 ranking. During a supremely consistent career, Feng registered 18 top-10 finishes in majors, two of them in 2021 even as she was winding down her playing commitments.

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