‘Betrayed by the PGA’: Despite Rory McIlroy’s ‘Sacrificial Lamb’ Remark, Fans Lash Out on PGA Tour Players’ Remuneration Hopes

Published 06/08/2023, 8:30 AM EDT

The latest merger in the golf world between the PGA Tour, the DP Tour, and the LIV Golf Series has opened up a number of puzzling questions. Among them is the cost of remuneration and whether there is a price attached for the players who took the ‘moral stand’.

Easily the most vociferous leader in the PGA camp, Rory McIlroy finds himself in a tough spot. With players from all leagues set to be re-united, is he expecting a reward for his loyalty over the past two years?

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Rory McIlroy wants dividends for PGA Tour loyalty

The four-time major championship winner is set to play at the RBC Canadian Open this week, which has sadly gone under the radar. A majority of the questions in his press conference were based on the recent announcement of the merger, among which McIlroy was asked about the price of his unflinching loyalty.

Indeed, the 34-year-old made his opinions clear regarding the expectation of certain remuneration. “I mean, the simple answer is yes. The complex answer is how does that happen, right? And that’s all, that’s all a gray area and up in the air at the minute,” he said at the presser.

To dig deeper into his situation, McIlroy claimed that he felt like a “sacrificial lamb” after the announcement of the merger. “But, yeah, there is, it’s hard to, it’s hard for me to not sit up here and feel somewhat like a sacrificial lamb and feeling like I’ve put myself out there and this is what happens.”

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Fans call out McIlroy and others for asking for compensation

The news of the merger means all players are set to play under the same umbrella foundation as before, albeit with mixed feelings. While the LIV defectors will be in a celebratory mood for making the most of the two-year hiatus, players like McIlroy could feel hard done by after their vigorous stand.

Is it just me, or does it also strike you as strange that a golfer being celebrated for taking a 'moral stand' and refusing Saudi money, is now asking for compensation from the same Saudi money? #LIVGolf #PGATour #PGALIVMerger pic.twitter.com/mQwfai8Cmh
— Tracey Holmes (@TraceyLeeHolmes) June 8, 2023

But is remuneration necessary for players who have stuck by the PGA Tour through thick and thin? Renowned sports presenter Tracey Holmes had her say regarding the decision, which prompted several netizens to express their opinions. Here’s a selection of those tweets:

Not as strange as the same people who celebrated that moral stand now celebrating their own partnership with the Saudis
— Ben Pobjie (@HartWexford) June 8, 2023

Well yes – but I presume they were encouraged by the “principled stand” of the PGA Leadership, who have now sold the whole game out from under them – possibly also extracting more dollars as a result of the “stable” they sold.
— 5x💉Rob Stephenson FRSA #FullyVaxxedAZ/Mod/Pfi (@RobBendigo) June 8, 2023

Agree completely,we’ve all made bad business/money decisions in our lives.Move on.
— Terry Corby (@PopCorby) June 8, 2023

Yeah I agree compensation is not going to fly. Though they do have a right to be angry at the PGA.
— Chris Masiero (@chrismasiero) June 8, 2023

You are spot on Tracey.
I will say though that it’s very easy for multi millionaires to take a so called moral stand.
Not so easy for most people.
— David Bishop (@djb170960) June 8, 2023

They are dirty that they missed the boat… I would be too… they were told they would be “saving golf” by staying… now those same people who were saying that to them have gone behind their backs and brokered a deal
— Dan (@danielmccamley) June 8, 2023

They dont want the defectors back who took the money and they want to be compensated or made “whole”. Yeah not realistic expectation
— Steven Hing (@eskimo2708) June 8, 2023

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You’d just feel so betrayed by the PGA.
— Spanner (@Spannerball) June 8, 2023

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Do you think the PGA Tour patriots should be handed a loyalty bonus for their support over the past couple of years? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Written by:

Sharan Nair is a Senior Golf Writer at EssentiallySports. He constantly covers the ongoing PGA vs LIV Golf tussle as it progresses. With over 600 articles to his name, Sharan masters the sport with his in-depth knowledge and research that is reflected in his meticulous coverage of all the Majors.

Edited by:

Sheldon Pereira

‘Betrayed by the PGA’: Despite Rory McIlroy’s ‘Sacrificial Lamb’ Remark, Fans Lash Out on PGA Tour Players’ Remuneration Hopes

Rory McIlroy wants dividends for PGA Tour loyalty

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Fans call out McIlroy and others for asking for compensation