Rory McIlroy slams some LIV golf rebels as 'pretty…

Rory McIlroy slams some LIV golf rebels as 'pretty duplicitous' after Brooks Koepka's defection

Rory McIlroy claims that the LIV golf rebels who had previously said they were not joining the Saudi-backed project are "pretty duplicitous".

McIlroy has been on the frontline of top PGA Tour players who have opposed the emergence of the new controversial tour that will hold its second 54-hole, 48-man event in Portland next week.

The Ulsterman was reacting to reports that Brooks Koepka is the latest big name golfer to join the LIV Tour.

Later, as PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan was delivering hard-hitting criticism of the new tour, LIV confirmed that Koepka was its newest member.

Like McIlroy, Koepka is a four-time major winner but rumours circulated at the US Open last week that he was on the verge of switching tours.

Previously the 32-year-old had criticised Phil Mickelson over his decision to join the LIV Tour but will now join the ranks that includes Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter.

"I'll go back to what I said, was it last week? It might have been Canada, I don't know," said McIlroy, speaking today ahead of the Traveler's Championship.

"But am I surprised? Yes, because of what he said previously.

"I think that's why I'm surprised at a lot of these guys because they say one thing and then they do another, and I don't understand that and I don't know if that's for legal reasons or if they can't...I have no idea.

"But it's pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing."

Asked if he was reacting to what players had said recently or a couple of years ago, McIlroy replied: "The whole way through.

"The whole way through, in public and private, all of it."

McIlroy reiterated his belief that the DP World Tour (former European Tour) and PGA Tour should work closer together or even merge.

"I've always advocated for something where the tours work more closely together or we create some sort of world tour model or ATP model," said the 33-year-old.

"Where there's different events going on in different areas of the world, but they're all governed under one umbrella.

"So, I mean, I would like to see the PGA TOUR and the European Tour start to work more closely together and maybe try to forge a path to where all the biggest golf events in the world are under the same umbrella.

"I think it's hard to say at this point, but I would like to think that it's a possibility."

The PGA Tour has reacted to the LIV Golf threat by introducing a series of changes to the 2023 schedule with extra financial incentives offered.

Monahan outlined a plan to add $20m in prize money in eight marquee tournaments plus the introduction of three new $25m events with no cuts and limited fields.

Monahan revealed the proposals to a meeting of players on Tuesday ahead of this week's tournament.

"If this is an arms race, and if the only weapons here are dollar bills the PGA Tour can't compete with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars in an attempt to buy the game of golf," said Monahan.

“The PGA Tour can’t compete with a foreign monarchy that is spending billions of dollars.

"We're always open to change and to make this Tour stronger and stronger."