‘He’s Had Enough’: Rory McIlroy’s ‘No Punishment’ Plea For LIV Golf Rebels Strongly Backed by Tour Veteran

Rory McIlroy has gone soft. McIlroy has flipped. He can even join LIV. The golf community is abuzz with McIlroy speculation because what the world has been hearing from the Northern Irishman is rather unexpected and unprecedented. After calling for a Ryder Cup rule change, and subtly taking a dig at the PGA Tour, now World No.2 said that the Tour should let the LIV Golfers come back to the fold without any punishment. 

Many might be dismayed but there is one man who understands where McIlroy is coming from. Rocco Mediate feels that the 24-time PGA Tour winner has “had enough”. Mediate, in fact, calls this a sign of times.

Rocco Mediate vigorously defends Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy is, obviously, an important voice because of his on-course achievements. But off the court as well, the Northern Irish golfer has never shied away from speaking his mind. Mediate believes, “He is the biggest guy in Golf, really. People listen to what he is saying. I love that he came out and said it.” Calling his present stance “Hundred percent correct,” the veteran Golfer commended McIlroy for his honesty and courage. 

What about the repercussions though? McIlroy has received flak from right, left, and center after his about-turn on LIV Golf. But Mediate thinks, “Rory Doesn’t care about (that). He says what he feels.” The veteran golfer is right on the money as McIlroy himself admitted, “Obviously I’ve changed my tune on that because I see where golf is”.

McIlroy has, of course, witnessed the better part of the PGA Tour’s battle with LIV Golf from the front, as a Player Director of the Tour Policy Board. The 34-year-old, however, resigned from his position last November, more than a year before his term was set to end. “Enough is enough,” that’s what McIlroy felt, Mediate presumes.

 

He alludes to Mickelson’s tweet where the Lefty called McIlroy’s reversal an opportunity to mend ways rather than “an opportunity to pile on”.  “Even Phil [Mickelson] came back a few weeks ago and said something like that was … nice,” added the veteran with a chuckle. Is this truly a sign of better times for Golf?

What does McIlroy’s comments indicate?

Raging a financial war with PIF is futile and no one knows it better than Rory McIlroy. While the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PIF were locked in talks for a merger, the latter kept hunting for more stars. First,  Jon Rahm, and now, Tyrrell Hatton, two of Rory McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammates have bolted to the other side. 

Read More: A Phil Mickelson Pat and a Greg Norman Thank You Note. Did Rory McIlroy Just Turn the Harbinger of Peace?

Undoubtedly, a detente is in the best interest of the fractured Golf world. “

I see that having a diminished PGA Tour and having a diminished LIV Tour or anything else is bad for both parties. It would be much better being (sic) together and moving (sic) forward together for the good of the game. That’s my opinion of it,” the 34-year-old said at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am press conference. The $3B framework agreement is set to reach a breakthrough before April, ahead of the first Major of this season tees off. And McIlroy is eager to see that day.

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