Rory McIlroy's LIV Golf U-turn is officially complete: "Let them come back"
Rory McIlroy has offered his verdict on Tyrrell Hatton's LIV Golf move and how to repair the world of men's professional golf.
Rory McIlroy has pleaded for LIV Golf players not to be punished anymore as the Northern Irishman conceded he has 'changed his tune'.
McIlroy, 34, was speaking ahead of this week's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA Tour.
He was supposed to be playing in a field that included World No.16 Tyrrell Hatton.
But the Englishman decided to join the breakaway tour after a call at the 11th hour from Jon Rahm.
It is alleged Hatton, one of McIlroy and Rahm's European Ryder Cup teammates, has accepted a £50m fee to join LIV.
In comments that will surely anger his critics, McIlroy has called for the punishments to end.
Rahm has been officially suspended by the established, North American circuit for bolting to LIV and Hatton will follow.
At the very least, LIV players will be frozen out until the PGA Tour concludes its talks with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
It has been suggested by those privy to the talks that an unlikely deal could be agreed before the first major of the year in April.
McIlroy was once part of that inner circle but he has resigned from his position on the Tour's policy board.
"I just hope they get it done," McIlroy told reporters on Tuesday in reference to the deal.
McIlroy previously claimed he stepped away from his board position as he wanted to dedicate more time to playing golf.
But it is clear he did not wield enough power. He went as far as saying he should never have joined the board at all.
"I just didn't feel like I could influence things the way I wanted to and I felt like I was just banging my head against the wall," he said.
Asked about Hatton's switch, McIlroy claimed the Englishman could still play in his and Tiger Woods' golf league, TGL, in the future.
The simulator golf league was delayed for one year after the arena where it was supposed to be staged was damaged.
He said he had a conversation with the 32-year-old before he joined LIV last Sunday and he 'completely understood' where he was coming from.
"I've talked to him quite a bit about it over the past month," McIlroy said.
"It got to the point where they, you know, negotiated and got to a place where he was comfortable with and he has to do what he feels is right for him.
"So I'm not going to stand in anyone's way from making money and if what they deem life changing money, like absolutely."
He continued: "But I think that the delay of TGL was a blessing in disguise.
"I think 10 months is a long time, especially in the game of golf right now.
"You know, who knows what the landscape's going to look like in 10 months' time.
"I think at this point all I see is opportunity. I certainly think that there's tons of opportunity within the game to do great things.
"You know, who knows. Tyrrell might still play TGL in 10 months' time depending on what happens."
Asked how to bring the game back together, McIlroy added: "I think life is about choices. Guys made choices to go and play LIV, guys made choices to stay here.
"If people still have eligibility on this tour and they want to come back and play or you want to try and do something, let them come back.
"I mean, I don't -- I don't think -- I think it's hard to punish people.
"I don't think there should be a punishment for -- obviously I've changed my tune on that because I see where golf is and 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 together and moving forward together for the good of the game.
"That's my opinion of it. So to me, the faster that we can all get back together and start to play and start to have the strongest fields possible I think is great for golf."
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