(Doral) The split between the historic PGA golf circuit and the breakaway league LIV, launched this year by former Australian champion Greg Norman and financed by Saudi funds, risks becoming “irreversible”, says world No.1 Rory McIlroy in an interview with the British daily The GuardianWednesday.
Posted at 12:58 p.m.
“This ‘us versus them’ thing has already gotten out of control,” the Northern Irishman said. “We are going to have a fractured sport for a long time […] This is not good for anyone, ”said the daily McIlroy, who took over the place of world No.1 on Sunday.
“It’s a strange feeling. I think this is the first time in my life that I feel somehow betrayed […] You build relationships with these people through the Ryder Cup. Let them know that what they are about to do will prevent them (from) being a part of it again, ”also said McIlroy, directly targeting former teammates of the European Ryder Cup team. having joined the LIV.
These remarks, from the world No.1 who had already spoken out at the beginning of June against the presence of players from the LIV circuit in the European Ryder Cup team, had the gift of making one of these former teammates, Englishman Ian Poulter, stung.
” A betrayal ? We can still qualify for the (European Ryder Cup) team as far as I know. Unless we were told that we could not qualify” for this biannual competition between teams from Europe and the United States, reacted the Briton.
“I have always wanted to play the Ryder Cup, which I have played with more passion than anyone,” he told the press, from Doral near Miami in Florida, where the LIV, which he decided to rally, is stopping off this weekend.
The world of golf is torn between the traditional Players Golf Association (PGA) circuit and the parallel LIV circuit.
The launch this year of the LIV circuit, with more richly endowed tournaments and in a tighter format, has caused deep tensions in the usually hushed world of golf. Several dozen players have joined the splinter circuit since its launch in June.