Rory McIlroy has backed the PGA Tour’s decision to boot out its 17 rebels competing in the LIV Golf series.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan announced shortly after the inaugural event in the eight-tournament series got under way at Centurion yesterday that the players in question would be banned for the foreseeable future.
Among those, Ian Poulter said he planned to appeal while Phil Mickelson has already made it clear that he intends to fight to defend his lifetime membership.
But McIlroy, who previously turned down LIV Golf’s advances, said following an opening-round 66 at the Canadian Open that left him in fifth place that the suspensions were the right approach.
“All he [Monahan] is doing is basically going by the book,” said the Northern Irishman. “I think the majority of the membership that are here this week and that haven’t went and played elsewhere really appreciate that.
“So I think he’s done the right thing because these guys have broken the rules and done things outside of the tournament regulations and, because of that, there are going to be consequences I guess.”
Back in St Albans, former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel took the clubhouse lead on five-under after his own opening-round 66, a shot ahead of countryman Hennie du Plessis. Of the biggest names, Mickelson was the best placed with Dustin Johnson, both four strokes off the lead.
Johnson was among a raft of LIV Golf players to resign their PGA Tour membership in the build-up to the event – Graeme McDowell the last to do so just half an hour before teeing off. But Johnson’s former Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Thomas joined McIlroy in backing the PGA Tour’s hard stance.
“I’m pleased,” said the recent US PGA Championship winner. “I think anybody that’s shocked clearly hasn’t been listening to the message that Jay and everybody’s been putting out. They took that risk going into it, whether they thought it was a risk or not.
“Like I’ve said the whole time, I have great belief and great confidence in the PGA Tour and where we’re going and continuing to grow, and those guys aren’t going to be a part of it.”
Poulter had opted against resigning his PGA Tour membership and looks ready for a legal fight in the way of LIV Golf’s first event.
“I will appeal for sure,” said the European Ryder Cup stalwart. “It makes no sense given how I have played the game of golf for all this time.
“I didn’t resign my membership because I don’t feel I have done anything wrong. I have played all over the world for 25 years. This is no different. I am committed to playing around the world like I have done for so many years so it is a shame if they view this as different.
“Of course, it’s going to be sad when you feel you haven’t done anything wrong and want to promote the game of golf. It’s a power struggle and it’s just disappointing.”
The DP World Tour could yet follow suit with bans of their own, although they were not commenting on any possible sanctions to be meted out by CEO Keith Pelley.
It left players like McDowell asking the question: “So will Keith follow suit? I hope he doesn’t. I think he has a fantastic opportunity here with a lot of European players… that would like to subsidise their schedule with other events, especially if we are not allowed to play on the PGA Tour. I really hope the European Tour makes a good decision.”
