Rory McIlroy has denied rumors he is close to accepting an offer with LIV Golf.
Speaking to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis on Tuesday at the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage event, McIlroy shut down a report from London’s City AM newspaper saying he would receive a staggering $850 million contract and 2 percent of equity in LIV in order to leave the PGA Tour. .
McIlroy has said he intends to play on the PGA Tour for the remainder of his career.
“I honestly don’t know how these things started,” McIlroy said. “I was never offered a LIV number and I never considered going there. Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the last couple of years that I didn’t think this was something for me. That doesn’t mean I judge the people who went to play there. I think one of the things I’ve realized over the last couple of years is that people can make their own decisions based on what they think is best for themselves.
“Who are we to judge them for that?” But personally, for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour, and it’s never been any different.
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Since the division’s inception in men’s professional golf, McIlroy has been the PGA Tour’s de facto spokesperson, repeatedly pledging his loyalty. When the June 6 master agreement between the PGA Tour and the Saudi PIF was first announced, McIlroy told media that the deal made him feel like a “sacrificial lamb” and that he “hates always » LIV Golf. He later left the PGA Tour political board.
McIlroy’s stance on the sports division has evolved. Recently, the 24-time PGA Tour winner called for the unification of the game on the world stage. As negotiations continue to bog down behind closed doors, McIlroy said the current state of the game is “unsustainable” and that both sides must move forward to reach a finalized deal.
Recent major champions Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Cam Smith and Bryson DeChambeau are all members of the Saudi-backed tour.
“No idea,” McIlroy said of the report’s origins. “Over the last couple of years there have been so many rumors about guys, and I think the one thing I’ve also realized is that guys need to keep an open mind. I’m sure there are players who are still on the PGA Tour who have talked to the LIV guys and had offers and stuff.
“Yeah, I have no idea. It was never even a conversation for us. That’s one of the things — it’s unfortunate that we have to deal with it. That’s the state our game is in. But obviously I’m here today, and I’m playing the PGA Tour event next week, and I’ll be playing the PGA Tour for the rest of my career.
McIlroy will play at Harbor Town Golf Links on Thursday. He just finished T22 at Augusta National.
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(Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images)