Rory McIlroy has known as gamers who be a part of LIV Golf “fairly duplicitous” as Brooks Koepka turned the most recent to maneuver to the brand new Saudi Arabian-backed collection.
4-time main champion Koepka joins compatriots Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau within the new $250m (£200m) eight-event collection.
McIlroy, a staunch advocate of the PGA Tour, stated he didn’t anticipate the previous world primary to defect to LIV Golf.
“Am I stunned? Sure, due to what he stated beforehand,” he stated.
“I believe that is why I am stunned at quite a lot of these guys, as a result of they are saying one factor after which they do one other and I do not perceive.
“I do not know if that is for authorized causes – I do not know – but it surely’s fairly duplicitous on their half to say one factor after which do one other factor. In public and in personal.”
Talking on the US Open final week, the place he completed fifty fifth after a poor weekend, Koepka complained that questions concerning the LIV Golf collection have been throwing a “black cloud” over the main.
In the meantime PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has labelled LIV Golf as not “wholesome competitors”.
“As I advised the gamers [on Tuesday], let me be clear, I’m not naive. If that is an arms race, and if the one weapons listed here are greenback payments, the PGA Tour cannot compete with a overseas monarchy that’s spending billions of {dollars} making an attempt to purchase the sport of golf,” Monahan stated.
“We welcome good, wholesome competitors. The LIV Saudi Golf League is just not that. It is an irrational menace, one not involved with return on funding or true progress of the sport.”
Koepka had already withdrawn from Thursday’s PGA Tour occasion, the Vacationers Championship, and has been described as an “unimaginable” addition to the LIV Golf collection by its chief govt Greg Norman.
“The addition of Brooks is yet one more instance of the unimaginable fields LIV Golf is assembling as we construct momentum in our first season and look in the direction of the long run,” Norman stated.
The American is predicted to play in his first LIV occasion on the second 54-hole, 48-man match that runs from 30 June to 2 July in Portland, Oregon.
He’ll be a part of his brother Chase within the collection and, on Tuesday, it was introduced 31-year-old Mexican Abraham Ancer, the world quantity 20, has additionally signed as much as play within the LIV Golf collection.
Koepka, now ranked world quantity 19, received the US Open in 2017 and 2018 and can also be a two-time US PGA champion, claiming the Wanamaker Trophy in 2018 and 2019.
Norman added on Koepka: “There is no understating the influence that Brooks Koepka has had on the sport of golf within the final 5 years. He carries a championship pedigree and report of success as one of the vital elite gamers on this planet.”
The PGA tour suspended 17 members who participated within the first match at Centurion Membership earlier in June, which was received by Charl Schwartzel, and it’s doubtless Koepka will obtain the identical remedy.
The organisation stated in an announcement: “The gamers are being notified that they’re suspended or in any other case not eligible to take part within the PGA Tour match play, together with the Presidents Cup.
“Gamers didn’t obtain the mandatory conflicting occasion and media rights releases – or didn’t apply for releases in any respect – and their participation is in violation of our Event Laws. This similar destiny holds true for every other gamers who take part in future Saudi Golf League occasions.”
It was additionally introduced on Wednesday that LIV gamers will be allowed to compete on the one hundred and fiftieth Open Championship in July. The US Open additionally allowed LIV golfers to take part.
