Rory McIlroy has been told he "should take a step back and let someone else pick up the baton" if his fight against the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series begins to affect his performance.
McIlroy has been very vocal in his opposition to LIV and Olympian Eve Muirhead, who won gold for Team GB as part of the women's curling team at the 2022 Winter Olympics and was part of the BBC's commentary team for this year's Open Championship at St Andrews, believes he has been "using the split in the game to motivate himself".
The 33-year-old recently became world No. 1 for the ninth time in his career and has enjoyed an impressive year, finishing second at the Masters, winning three PGA Tour events and securing nine top-10 finishes in his last 15 events.
"Rory has always come across as a man of principle who isn't afraid to speak out when he feels the situation demands it. But this is a whole different level," Muirhead wrote of McIlroy's ongoing fight against LIV in a column for the Courier.
"It must be emotionally draining at times and by his own admission friendships are being lost. That's what makes me think he's realised that having a cause to fight for can benefit his golf.
"He's reached world number one and was unlucky not to become Open champion, all while taking on LIV on what has seemed a weekly basis.
"And it was telling that when asked how long he has targeted staying there, McIlroy answered '332 weeks', which was Greg Norman's spell at the top of the golfing world.
"He's either consciously or sub-consciously using the split in the game to motivate himself. Keep doing it as long as it's a win-win, would be my take.
"But the moment McIlroy feels the scales have tipped and all the LIV stuff is becoming a disruptive distraction rather than a helpful one, he should take a step back and let someone else pick up the baton."
