Rickie Fowler takes issue with Rory McIlroy’s plan to ‘welcome back’ LIV Golf defectors

As the LIV golf season kicks off this weekend, PGA stars Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy are making their mark as they return from major break tournaments.

Rickie Fowler does not believe there should be a “straight line” for LIV golf defectors, despite Rory McIlroy insisting players will be punished “harshly”.

McIlroy, a staunch PGA official until recently one of the Saudi Tour’s biggest critics, has softened his stance on players jumping ship because of the generous income on offer. “I think life is about choices,” McIlroy said.

“The boys chose to play LIV and decided to stay here. If people still fit into this tour and want to come back and hang out or see something, let them come back. I think it’s hard to punish people. I think there should be no punishment.

“Obviously I changed my mind because I saw where golf was and I saw that the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour were going to go down or something bad was going to happen to both sides. It would be much better to be together for the game and move forward together.

As he awaits the LIV Golf merger, Greg Norman has broken his silence on the £2.4bn PGA Tour deal.

“Here’s my take on it. We all get together as quickly as possible to start playing and get the strongest terrain. “I think it’s perfect for golf.”

But McIlroy’s PGA rival Fowler suggested those leaving the LIV would not be able to return to the PGA TOUR. Fowler believes he should come and go as he pleases. “I probably wouldn’t be in the same place as Rory,” Fowler said. “We may have started in a similar neighborhood, but for him it was like a roller coaster ride. “I don’t think there’s a straight path [back to the Tour] in terms of the decision to go elsewhere and get them back. That means they’ve made a decision and need to do something about it. Small or big, it’s not up to me.