The golf world has seen its fair share of drama over the past two years. Yes, we are exactly talking about the inception of LIV Golf and the effect it has had on the sport. And, Interestingly, there were a lot of voices speaking out against the Saudi-backed league out of which Rory McIlroy was one of the loudest, until recently.

What changed? It all started with Jon Rahm’s defection following which the Northern Irishman expressed the need for a change in DP World Tour’s rules to include the Spaniard in the upcoming Ryder Cup in Bethpage. That’s not all, he even did a complete U-turn regretting his actions and words that were aimed at the PIF-funded circuit. Although all these happened weeks ago, one can’t help but wonder if the 34-year-old’s words influenced many others as well, including a certain European Tour pro’s recent decision to make the jump to LIV Golf!

DPWT Pro’s defection to LIV Golf; courtesy of Rory McIlroy?

A surprising news hit the golf community, not too long ago, when Adrian Meronk signed a deal with the Middle Eastern circuit. His signing enabled him to join Martin Kaymer-led Cleeks GC while allowing him to make a debut at the upcoming event in Mayakoba, Mexico. The move may have been in the making for a while now as can be inferred from his decision to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open, a while back.

Why jump ships? Isn’t that an answer we are all curious about?! Well, it doesn’t take much to infer the fact that the change in opinion of the 2023 Race to Dubai champion must have influenced his decision. Moreover, in an exclusive interview on Stick to Football, the 24X PGA Tour champ turned softie for LIV Golf all the while admitting his mistake of being too “judgemental.”

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Adding on, McIlroy was quick to express his disbelief at the fact that “PGA Tour has done so well for so long.” What’s more, he confessed how the alternate circuit is just part of the sport of golf now while commenting on the “unsustainable” fight between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. This changed stance by the Northern Irishman is enough proof that the tide in the golfing world was turning and it was just a matter of time before professionals like Meronk were attracted by the Saudi-backed league.

Besides, if the current world No.2, and the winner of the tournament in which you finished as a runner-up has a certain opinion on something, it’s natural to be affected by it. But, was that all that influenced his decision? Guess again!

McIlroy’s Ryder Cup motivation hits a different mark

Back in September, when Luke Donald named his captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup, the 4X DP World Tour champ golfer was, unfortunately, snubbed. Meronk had expressed his dissatisfaction at the same which came about even though he won twice during the season, at the 2022 ISPS Handa Australian Open and the DS Automobiles Italian Open that followed in 2023.

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McIlroy, while expressing sympathy for the 2023 Seve Ballesteros award winner, urged the 30-year-old to use the same as “fuel for the fire.” Continuing with his words of wisdom for the fellow European, he asked the golfer to “keep playing great and hopefully make the next one in the States,” all the while dubbing the skipper’s overlook as nothing short of “unfortunate.”

Well, it seems he did take it as motivation to pull off scintillating performances to reach No.39 in the OWGR. He won the 2023 Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters and finished T8 at the 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open before going ahead to place T2 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. However, the snub must have ultimately remained in the Pole’s mind, as he used the motivation given to him by the 4X major champ to decide on joining LIV Golf.

Is another DP World Tour Pro joining LIV?

Surprisingly, what followed his defection was rumors of yet another European golfer gearing up to join the Middle Eastern circuit, none other than Tyrrell Hatton. What’s more, as per reports, it seems that he is supposedly in the process of negotiating his entry to the same, while becoming a part of Rahm’s Legion XIII GC. It just shows the effect that McIlroy’s change of heart has had on other athletes, especially fellow DP World Tour professionals.

Well, being the most popular player on the PGA Tour, courtesy of PIP, the Northern Irishman’s opinions are sure to affect the sport of golf as a whole. Nevertheless, only time will tell if more athletes will follow suit behind Meronk and join LIV Golf while accepting the benefits that the alternate tour provides as opposed to staying on the PGA Tour or the European circuit.

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