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Rory McIlroy has revealed he held a video call with his Open Championship rival Cameron Smith about the Australian’s decision surrounding LIV Golf. Smith secured his maiden major title at the expense of McIlroy last month, after winning the Claret Jug at the 150th Open at St Andrews.
Following his victory, the Aussie star was immediatley questioned on whether he was set to join fellow Australian Greg Norman at LIV Golf, but angrily brushed the line of questioning aside.
Since then, Smith’s links to the Saudi-backed circuit have only grown bigger. Open rival McIlroy has spoken strongly against the breakaway series throughout golf’s recent civil war, and the Northern Irishman reached out to world No. 2 Smith regarding his controversial move.
“I had a conversation with Cameron Smith two days after The Open,” said McIlroy. “Firstly, I wanted to congratulate him, but also I wanted people to make a decision that is completely informed and basically know this is what’s coming down the pipeline. This is what you may be leaving behind.
“I just don’t want people making decisions hearing information from one side and not from another. I’ve always said guys can do whatever they want. Guys can make a decision that they feel is best for themselves and their families. But I want guys to make decisions based on all of the facts.
“Sometimes I don’t think some guys made those decisions based on having all the facts in front of them.”
McIlroy spoke ahead of this week’s PGA Tour season finale at the Tour Championship, where the Northern Irishman is gunning for a record third FedEx Cup triumph. The Northern Irishman spoke openly about his new business venture will golfing great Tiger Woods TMRW Sports, which is expected to host stadium golf events in conjunction with the PGA Tour.
Monahan informed the world’s media that the game’s top players have committed to playing at least 20 PGA Tour events in 2023, which will include 12 ‘elevated events’ with an average purse of $20 million (£17m), the four major championships and the Players Championship. The Tour’s Player Impact Programme will also extend to 20 players rather than 10, and will have increase in payout from $50 million (£42m) to $100 milion (£84m).
Those lower down the rankings will also reap the rewards of the tour’s new and improved plans. The commissioner confirmed that the tour will be introudcing an ‘earning assurance programme’, which sees them provide a minimum of $500,000 (£434,000) to every fully exempt member.
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