By ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUGUSTA (AP) — This wasn’t the kind of attention Rory McIlroy was hoping for on the day after the Masters.
A London financial paper, City A.M., cited anonymous sources as saying McIlroy was believed to be close to an $850 million deal to join LIV Golf. The publication did not say how the sources would know. That set off speculation and innuendo across the internet.
McIlroy was able to shut it down when he arrived at the RBC Heritage.
“I honestly don’t know how these things get started,” McIlroy told Golf Channel from the range at Harbour Town. “I’ve never been offered a number from LIV and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.”
He most recently said that at Bay Hill last month.
McIlroy said he won’t judge players going to LIV if they feel that’s what it is best for them. He also expressed anew how important it is to have the top players come together more often than the four majors. And he believes some PGA Tour players are still contemplating going over to the Saudi-funded tour. It’s just not for him.
“I’ll play the PGA Tour the rest of my career,” he said.
He wasn’t the only person getting plenty of attention involving LIV Golf. The commissioner and CEO, Greg Norman, spent three days at the Masters and made his presence felt at every turn.
Norman acquired a ticket to watch like any other spectator — presumably the 104 tickets available to the 13 LIV players in the Masters already were taken — and raved about the reception he received.
Norman took to Instagram to thank “the hundreds if not thousands of people” for what he called “unanimous support.”
“My right hand is sore from shaking hands with each and every one of you as well as the hugs given to so many,” Norman wrote.
