Rory McIlroy says the R&A made the right decision in blocking Greg Norman from participating in The 150th Open Championship at St Andrews.
And the Ulsterman admits he would prefer if one of the LIV Golf players wasn't the victor at the end of this week, given the historic nature of this major.
McIlroy has been one of golf's biggest critics of the new Saudi-backed tour that Norman has fronted.
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As a two-time Open winner, Aussie Norman was due an invite to take part in the Celebration of Champions event played over four holes at the famous Old Course yesterday evening.
McIlroy, as well as fellow Irishmen Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington, did participate and the Holywood star feels that given the situation right now, Norman's exclusion was the correct call.
The 67-year-old had also sought a special exemption to play in The Open, but it wasn't granted - and he wasn't invited to the champions' dinner, either.
"It's The 150th Open Championship, and that's what we need to focus on," said McIlroy.
"I think the focus would have been taken away a little bit if he'd have been here.
"I supported that decision, and I think right now, because of everything that's happening in the golf world, I think it was the right decision to be made.
"But if things change in the future, or whatever happens, who knows, but I could see a day where he's certainly welcome back.
"But right now, just with everything going on, we want the focus to be on The 150th Open Championship and this being a celebration of a wonderful golf tournament and a wonderful game in general, and I think it was the right decision for that."
With LIV Golf stars such as Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and former Open winner Louis Oosthuizen present this week, McIlroy admits his preference is for a regular Tour player to prevail.
"Selfishly, for me, yes, I think it would be better for the game," he stated.
"But at the end of the day, everyone that's here has the same opportunity to go out there and try to win a Claret Jug, regardless of what Tour they play on or whatever that is.
"Whoever wins here at the end of the week should be commended for one of the greatest achievements this game has to offer.
"I'm not going to begrudge anyone if they win the Claret Jug and they play on a different Tour than I play.
"That's still a wonderful achievement, and they're still playing the same sport.
"But I selfishly want that person to be me, and I'm going to try my best to make that happen."
McIlroy admits he is making an emotional return to St Andrews this week and reflected on a special build-up to the final major of the year.
The 33-year-old, who had top 10s in the previous three majors this year, said he was honoured to play alongside his childhood hero and close friend Tiger Woods, the legendary Lee Trevino and Georgia Hall in the
"Yeah, sort of a little bit emotional in a way," said McIlroy, who won the Claret Jug in 2014.
"It’s incredible. If you were to tell 10-year-old Rory back then you’d be doing this I wouldn’t have believed you.
"So to get my name on the Claret Jug, to be as close as I am with my hero growing up and to be a part of something like this with Lee Trevino, Georgia Hall all the great champions that are gathered here today, to do the champions dinner in the R&A clubhouse tomorrow, to have Jack Nicklaus on the first tee...it’s just pinch yourself moments and it’s just really, really cool and I am so privileged and humbled to be part of it all."
McIlroy couldn't participate in the event when it was last staged in 2015 - and in the last Open Championship at St Andrews - after rupturing ankle ligaments playing five a side football weeks before the tournament.
"I was a silly boy but yes, I have not done anything to jeopardise playing in this championship," he smiled.
"So I'm here, I'm healthy and I’ve just got it to keep myself in good shape for the next couple of days and I’m looking forward to teeing off on Thursday."
While it is feared the big-hitters could tear the Old Course apart, McIlroy believes that pin placement will make that feat difficult and that players will have to be strategic in their approach.
"I think you'll see guys lay back a little bit because you're going to get full shots into greens to be able to at least create some spin and get the ball close to some of these hole positions," he predicted.
"Quite frankly, the only defence St Andrews has these days is tucking pins away and making it hard to get to them."
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