Rory McIlroy had his say on the ongoing debate surrounding the rollback of the golf ball, and the Northern Irishman once again took aim at the influence of money within the game.
Four-time major champion Rory McIlroy appeared to take a subtly at his rival at LIV Golf as he backed a plan to roll back golf balls.
The debate over the ball has been a hot topic in recent months, as the powers that be supposed to protect golf courses have been overwhelmed by the ever-increasing distance of the game. The R&A and the PGA are expected to make technical changes to reduce the distance the ball travels.
Initially, there were calls for the system to be introduced only in professional golf, but the proposal to split the equipment, which would have required different equipment for professionals and amateurs, was rejected, and it is now expected to be introduced in amateur golf as well.
Taking to X to have his say, McIlroy tweeted: “I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball roll back. It will make no difference to the average golfer and will put golf back on the path to sustainability. It would also help bring back certain skills to the professional game that have been eradicated over the past two decades.
The Northern Irishman went on to allude to the previous bifurcation rejection, and linked it back to the ever-growing influence of money within the game. This has become even more important over the past year thanks to the rapid rise of LIV Golf, which McIlroy has publicly criticized several times in recent battles with the PGA Tour.
People who are angry about this decision.''They shouldn’t be angry at the governing body, they should be angry at the elite pros and the bat and ball manufacturers, because they didn’t want division,” McIlroy added. “The governing body presented this option to us earlier this year.” Elite pros and ballmakers believe that splitting hurts their bottom line, when in reality the game is already split.
“Do you think we’ll play like you do?” They put pressure on the governing bodies to bring them down to a lower level for everyone. Split was the logical answer for everyone, but again, this fight is about money.” This is not the first time McIlroy has used the phrase “money talk.”
Over the summer, the Northern Irishman took the same tack when discussing a surprise framework agreement between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Tour’s decision turned out to be a real change of direction after repeated attempts by Tour to halt the rise of breakaway leagues and thwart Saudi influence in the sport.
McIlroy played a pivotal role in this defence, but on the back of the agreement, was forced to accept the Middle Eastern state were here to stay in professional golf. “Whether you like it or not, the PIF were going to keep spending money in golf,” he said in June.
“At least the PGA Tour now controls how that money is spent. If you’re thinking about one of the biggest sovereign wealth funds in the world, would you rather have them as a partner or as an enemy? At the end of the day money talks and you’d rather have them as a partner.”