Rory McIlroy - Need to focus on my game, not PGA Tour-LIV tiff

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Rory McIlroy has emerged as one of the faces and most loyal supporters of the PGA Tour during its ongoing battle with LIV Golf. Whether it's organizing players' meetings, helping formulate new models for the tour or speaking with the media, McIlroy has been front and center for the past several months.

After missing the cut at the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Saturday, McIlroy admitted his off-course duties have taken a toll on his game.

«It's just the time management,» McIlroy said. «The golf out here [at tournaments], that's fine, but it's just more the time at home to make sure you're getting prepared, to make sure that you're doing everything you can to be ready once you show up to these weeks. That's where I've maybe sacrificed a little bit of time with some of this other stuff.

»As I said, I'm ready to get back to being purely a golfer."

Before last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy attended a players' advisory committee meeting that lasted almost seven hours. He has participated in numerous calls with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods and others.

McIlroy's putter and driver let him down at the Players. He carded a 1-over 73 in the second round and finished 5 over after 36 holes. It was his sixth career missed cut at the Players.

McIlroy, who is ranked No. 3 in the world, needed 60 putts in two rounds and lost more than three strokes to the field in putting. He led the field in driving distance at 305.2 yards but was tied for 117th in driving accuracy, hitting only 13 of 28 fairways at the Stadium Course.

«Just very blah,» McIlroy said of his performance. «I guess the course, you just have to be really on to play well here. If you're a little off, it