'Common sense prevailed' - Rory McIlroy welcomes blocking of LIV rebels' bid to play in FedEx Cup

Rory McIlroy has praised the decision to block three LIV rebels from playing the PGA Tour's end-of-season FedEx Cup series, saying that «common sense prevailed». Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones had challenged the PGA Tour's barring of LIV defectors from the playoff events having qualified for the FedEx Cup. Ad But the trio's appeal was quashed by Judge Beth Labson Freeman on Tuesday in California, with the judge insisting that they were «well aware of the consequences» of joining the Saudi-backed series, and had not made a compelling case to overturn their suspensions.

The OpenMcIlroy: I back decision to keep Norman away from Open13/07/2022 AT 13:47 The PGA Tour has barred players that have entered the breakaway series from playing on tour and Gooch, Swafford and Jones remain excluded from this weekend's opening FedEx Cup event in Memphis. McIlroy, a consistent and strong critic of the LIV Golf Series, welcomed the news, and hopes that the focus can now remain on performances on the course. «From my vantage point, common sense prevailed and I thought it was the right decision,» McIlroy said ahead of the FedEx St Jude Championship.

«It lets us focus on the important stuff, which is the golf. We can all move forward and not have that sideshow going on for the next few weeks, which is nice. »I don't feel like it's my job to be up here and sticking up for the PGA Tour or being a spokesperson; it's just the role I have found myself in.