Following his FedEx Cup win, Rory McIlroy delivered some more jabs to LIV Golf.
With the advent of the LIV Golf Series and the threat that the new circuit poses to the PGA Tour, McIlroy has become the de facto player face of the PGA Tour over the last few years, a role that he said came somewhat naturally to him.
With McIlroy taking home the Tour Championship win at East Lake Golf Club on Sunday, his stance on LIV Golf hasn’t changed much.
Rory going deep on LIV:
“I hate what it’s done to the game of golf. I really do. It’s gonna be hard for me to stomach going to Wentworth and seeing 18 of them there. It just doesn’t sit right with me.”
— Brentley Romine (@BrentleyGC) August 28, 2022
“I hate what it’s done to the game of golf. I hate it. I really do,” McIlroy said following the Tour Championship. “It’s gonna be hard for me to stomach going to Wentworth (for the BMW PGA Championship) in a couple weeks’ time and seeing 18 of them there. It just doesn’t sit right with me.
“I feel strongly. I believe what I’m saying are the right things, and I think that when you believe what you’re saying are the right things, you’re happy to stick your neck out on the line.”
MORE: How Rory McIlroy won a record third FedEx Cup, by the numbers
McIlroy has been openly critical of the controversial, Saudi-backed golf league which has pilfered some of the PGA Tour’s most notable names, including Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau.
In seeming response to the threat that LIV Golf has posed to the PGA Tour, president Jay Monahan announced several changes coming to the PGA Tour in the coming year, including “elevated events” featuring larger purses and a bigger emphasis on competition between the game’s top players .
Working with Tiger Woods, McIlroy also plans to launch a new tech-based golf league called TGL in 2024.
McIlroy outlasted Scottie Scheffler and took home an $18 million check for his win, the biggest prize on the Tour, after playing well at each of the major tournaments this season but missing out on the podium.
He took the lead late Sunday and held on. Of course, “late” is subjective, though.
“On the 70th hole, it’s a nice time to take the lead on a golf tournament — or the 52nd hole if you play somewhere else,” he said.
He who laughs last, and all.