'I'm So Sick Of It' - McIlroy Tired Of Saudi Super League Chat
The four-time Major winner is tired of super league talk and called the prospect of a breakaway circuit "a massive risk"
Rory McIlroy says he is "so sick" of talking about the rumoured Saudi Super League as speculation continues to grow over the potential of a breakaway circuit and which players might sign up.
McIlroy also described the prospect of a super league as "a massive risk" and said the fact that he, along with the world's top two players Jon Rahm and Collin Morikawa are sticking with the PGA Tour, "has to tell you something."
"Oh, I'm so sick of it," McIlroy said of the rumoured new golf league ahead of this week's Genesis Invitational. "Curious, I don't know if I'm curious, but yeah, look, I guess I'm intrigued who would -- certainly for the younger guys, like it just seems a massive risk and I can maybe make sense of it for the guys that are getting to the latter stages of their career, for sure.
"I don't think that's what a rival golf league is really, that's not what they're going to want, is it? They don't want some sort of league that's like a pre-Champions Tour. I don't know, yeah, like I guess I understand the financial part of it for guys that are later on in their career. You look at the people that have already said no, Rahm, No. 1 in the world, Collin Morikawa, myself. Like you've got the top players in the world are saying no, so that has to tell you something."
Earlier in the day, the four-time Major winner was asked about the Saudi-backed golf league by Golf Digest, where he said that the money isn't going to change their lives, whilst players who leave the PGA Tour would be "tarnishing" their reputations.
“Look, I’ve lived it—for the top guys, all that money really isn’t going to change their life,” McIlroy told Golf Digest. “I’m in a way better financial position than I was a decade ago and my life is no different. I still use the same three, four rooms in my house. I just don’t see the value in tarnishing a reputation for extra millions.”
It's been a big week of speculation with sources saying that Bryson DeChambeau has signed up for the rumoured league and PGA Tour player Kramer Hickok saying he thinks 17 players have signed up already.
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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