‘Very Naive’: Tiger Woods’s Ex Coach Taunts Rory McIlroy Over LIV Golf Stance

Legacy or money? It has been a favorite question in golf ever since LIV Golf’s inception. PGAT pro Rory McIlroy has always decided to side with legacy. More so, the Irish golfer had pretty critical views towards LIV Golf in the past. But lately, the blow has softened, and he has become more welcoming towards LIV. The golfer even accepted that he was “too judgmental of the breakaway league. What led to this change of heart is still a mystery, but it could probably be connected to Jon Rahm‘s $566 million defection. Surprisingly, if the words of his former agent are to be believed, the Irish golfer is thinking about joining the Saudi-backed league.

If the four-time major champion decides to move, it would be one of the biggest blows to the PGA Tour. The defection could also garner a lot of anger over losing the star player, amidst other ongoing merger chaos. But in the meantime, Tiger Woods‘s ex-coach decided to drop a sarcastic truth bomb about the infamous ‘money or legacy’ debate while silently taunting the Northern Irishman.

Tiger Woods’s ex-coach calls out Rory McIlroy for his ‘money’ remarks

The Irish golfer’s speculated move to LIV Golf is turning out to be a heated debate in the community. The reason? His past critical views towards the breakaway league, and rightfully so! In the past, McIlroy has said that moving leagues just for money is something he looks down upon. But if his LIV Golf move rumors turn out to be true, the golfer might have to eat his words. As per Hank Haney (Woods’s coach from 2004–10), McIlroy’s money stance on LIV is unfair, since it’s so much more than that!

From being a non-supporter of LIV to being a supporter, Haney has come a long way. According to him, LIV Golf is far easier and more fun to play as compared to PGA Tour events. Mocking McIlroy’s money statement in light of his speculated move, Haney said, “To think that making more money and working 25-35% less isn’t appealing to professional athletes is very naive.”

In the past few months, Hank Haney has been showing tremendous support to the Saudi- League and its players. He even expressed his stern remarks about OWGR failing to acknowledge the LIV golfers’ efforts. Not only did he call OWGR officials “idiots,” he also called out the “corrupt golf media,” who fail to give due credit to the players who are performing exceptionally well on the 54-hole format. Interestingly, Haney also came forward in McIlroy’s support when someone on the internet said that the Northern Irishman had missed the “100+ million payday” by not joining LIV.

While rumors about Rory McIlroy’s move are flying everywhere, he has yet to confirm anything about the matter. It may be the case that, at the end of the day, he would stick with the PGA Tour or shock the golf world like the Spaniard did.

Irish golfer’s softened stance might be a hint toward defection

Since the day McIlroy left his player-director role on the PGA Tour, he has undergone a complete 180-degree transformation. He outright changed his views on the PGA Tour-PIF merger, calling it a step in the right direction.

Furthermore, this year he even went against the views of Rickie Fowler and Tiger Woods over LIV Golf players thinking of returning to the PGA Tour. He said, “Let them come back… I don’t think there should be a punishment [for LIV players wanting to return to the PGA Tour].”

Read More: Rory McIlroy: The Pro Who Almost Always Wins

Apart from this opposite view from fellow PGAT players, he even got into a spat with Jordan Spieth over the SSG investment. So it looks like Rory McIlroy is in a regular clash with other golfers. The golfer’s completely altered thoughts about the league he once despised are the ones that everyone is having a hard time understanding.

But, could it mean that he is moving to LIV? Well, only time can tell, and if he decides to do so, it sure is going to cost LIV Golf a lot of money. In the meantime, the Irish golfer will continue to play on the PGA Tour.

Do you think he will join LIV Golf? Let us know in the comments section below.

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