PGA Tour/LIV deal good for golf but rebels must pay, says McIlroy

TORONTO :The new partnership between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will ultimately be good for professional golf, Rory McIlroy said on Wednesday, but players who jumped to the Saudi-backed venture will not be welcomed back with open arms.

McIlroy, speaking ahead of this week's Canadian Open, said he was stunned by Tuesday's announcement of a merger of the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV into one unified commercial entity which ended a bitter year-long feud that split the sport.

One of the PGA Tour's most vocal backers, McIlroy had been critical of golfers like Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson, former world number one Dustin Johnson and reigning PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka, who took massive signing bonuses to jump to the breakaway circuit.

Those decisions come with consequences, said the Northern Irishman who is a four-times major champion.

"The people that left the PGA Tour irreparably harmed this Tour, started litigation against it," said McIlroy the defending Canadian Open champion. "We can't just welcome them back in.

"That's not going to happen."

McIlroy was not tempted by the Saudi money and believes those players who stood with the PGA Tour should be compensated for their loyalty.

"The simple answer is yes," said McIlroy. "The complex answer is how does that happen.

"It's hard for me to not sit up here and feel somewhat like a sacrificial lamb and feeling like I've put myself out there and this is what happens."

REBEL CIRCUIT

McIlroy acknowledged that the deal does not actually include LIV Golf but is a partnership between the PGA and DP Tours and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls the rebel circuit.

"I still hate LIV," said McIlroy. "I hope it goes away and I would fully expect that it does.

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