Rory McIlroy has told his fellow European Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter that he has fuelled ‘resentment’ as golf’s civil war surrounding the LIV Series continues. Poulter was one of the marquee names to make the many moves to the Saudi-backed circuit last month.
Poulter and his fellow LIV rebels were handed a £100,000 fine and a ban from this week’s Scottish Open by the DP World Tour following their decision to defect. In response the Englishman led a legal battle against the tour in order to overturn his punishment, which proved successful on Monday.
The 46-year-old was not the only defector to benefit from the decision, with Justin Harding and Adrian Otaegui also having their suspensions overturned.
McIlroy though seemed less than impressed with the legal charge on the Wentworth-based circuit, insisting those that have made the decision to join the breakaway circuit should not play on the PGA and DP World Tours again. He told the BBC : “I think at this stage, if you've gone over to play on another tour then go and play on that tour.
“You've basically left all your peers behind to make more money, which is fine. But just stay over there. Don't try to come back and play over here again.
"The whole cake-and-eat-it type of attitude is what the resentment stems from within the PGA Tour and DP World Tour membership. That's the tricky part."
The four-time major champion was not the only one at this week’s Scottish Open warning off the Saudi rebels, as Billy Horschel also called for those who chose to make the switch not to return to golf’s two leading tours. Horschel did not hold back, branding the defectors 'hypocrites and accusing them of ‘lying’.
The American star commented: “Those guys made their bed. They say that's what they want to do. So just leave us alone. Honestly. They keep talking about how the PGA Tour doesn't listen.
"I've been really frustrated by it because there's a lot of guys that are hypocrites, that aren't telling the truth and that are lying about some things. I just can't stand to sit here anymore and be diplomatic about it."
