World number two Rory McIlroy insists he is not playing to prove a point with the PGA Tour facing the biggest threat in its history from the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
The Northern Irishman won the Canadian Open a fortnight ago and contended at last week’s US Open – eventually finishing joint fifth – before equalling his lowest opening round on the American tour on Thursday with a bogey-free 62 at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
His eight-under-par score gave him the early clubhouse lead, just ahead of Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele and Scotland’s Martin Laird, and maintained his recent good form but the 33-year-old dismissed suggestions the ructions caused by the Saudi-backed breakaway had helped him up his game.
