Leave it to the Olympics to refuel the rhetoric between LIV golfers and those from the PGA Tour.
LIV golfers arrived in Paris with their talking points, primarily expressing their displeasure with the “politics” that have prevented more golfers from the Saudi-backed league from representing their country.
Rory McIlroy, who is representing Ireland, shot back, showing no sympathy for those cashing checks from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. McIlroy was LIV’s biggest detractor among PGA Tour players before taking a softer stance lately.
“If you want to qualify for the Olympics, you knew what you had to do,” McIlroy said ahead of Thursday’s opening day of competition at Le Golf National, about 25 miles outside of Paris. “Just like if you wanted to qualify for the Ryder Cup, you knew what you had to do. They were very aware of the decision they made when they did.
“I don’t think there’s any other way to do (Olympic qualifying) because it’s hard to compare the golf that they play to the golf that we play. That’s the reason they didn’t get world ranking points, right.”
The gloves are off, again.
More: USA Today’s 2024 Olympics hub | How to watch | Full men’s field | Full women’s field
Seven LIV golfers representing four countries are in Paris. But that’s not enough, they say. Spain’s Jon Rahm and David Puig. Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and Mito Pereira. Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer. Poland’s Adrian Meronk.
All were selected, as were the other 53 men and 60 women, based on world ranking points.
The top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking automatically are in the Olympics field, with a maximum of four per country, and each country is guaranteed two spots for the two top-ranked players from that country.
Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC reacts on the 17th hole during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – Andalucia at Real Club Valderrama on July 12, 2024 in Sotogrande, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
DeChambeau, Cantlay not on U.S. Olympic golf team
The OWGR board denied LIV’s application for points about 10 months ago. Fairly or unfairly – and the board laid out their reasons – that’s something everyone who joined LIV knew was a possibility.
Including Bryson DeChambeau.
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