Rory McIlroy ripped into by PGA Tour champion as LIV Golf comments spark fury | Golf | Sport

Rory McIlroy has been savagely criticised by a former PGA Tour star for his latest LIV Golf comments. The Northern Irishman is currently competing in the Genesis Invitational event at Torrey Pines, where he carded a level-par 72 in his opening round.

But what he said before taking to the tee in San Diego has caused a stir, with the four-time major champion urging his fellow players to “get over” the prospect of an historic merger between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed circuit.

“If people have their feelings hurt because guys went or whatever, like who cares?” he said. “Let’s move forward together and let’s just try to get this thing going again and do what’s best for the game.”

He also said that all players had benefitted from the LIV project, given that prize funds had been subsequently raised on other tours in order to compete. But Johnson Wagner of the Golf Channel has since angrily hit back by accusing McIlroy of thinking selfishly.

“The fact that he’s talking about ‘we’ve all benefitted’ – he’s just seeing things from such a finite perspective,” said the three-time PGA Tour winner “He’s not seeing who hasn’t benefitted from all this going on.

“The sponsors that pay all the bills for the PGA Tour events because TV is down, everything is down, but they’re being asked to pay more money. So, good for you. I’m glad you’re making more money than you were in 2019 – which was a ton of money.”

Wagner also cited the 35-year-old’s apparent hypocrisy. He was previously a vociferous critic of LIV Golf and, along with Tiger Woods, launched the TGL in an effort to stave off their threat to the status quo.

“He’s said things over the past couple of seasons that have rubbed a lot of players the wrong way,” he continued. “And now he wants everybody to get over it. He’s pushing for a small world tour. He’s trying to get his way. I’m a huge fan of Rory, but he is angering me right now.”

It wasn’t just McIlroy’s comments on his fellow professionals that made headlines. The Ryder Cup icon also revealed he recently played 18 holes with US President Donald Trump, who has vowed to help broker a peace deal between golf’s warring factions.

“I played golf with him a few weeks ago,” he revealed. “It was great, he was very good. I think we had a good conversation. I learned that he is not a fan of the LIV format.

“The president can do a lot of things. He has direct access to Yasir’s boss, Saudi PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. There are not many people who have that, and there are not many people who can say that.”