As the world no. 2, Rory McIlroy, heads to the Augusta National this week, the 33-year-old will want to clinch his long-awaited Green Jacket. Once again, the Irishman is one of the favorites to win the Masters this year. Ahead of the exciting tournament, McIlroy delved into his relationship with the LIV golfers.

The four-time major champion remains one of the most vocal critics of the Saudi-backed breakaway series. Per reports, the player has shot down multi-million-pound contracts from LIV Golf, unlike some of his former compatriots.

As McIlroy gears up to compete at the Masters, he revealed new details about his equation with LIV players.

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Rory McIlroy deems the PGA-LIV rivalry as insignificant compared to the tournament

According to Masters’ qualifying criteria, 18 LIV golfers are eligible to play at the prestigious Augusta National this year. This roster includes six former champions, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel, and Sergio Garcia.

Speaking to Sky Sports Golf ahead of the tournament, the star golfer shared that he saw Brooks Koepka and Johnson from time to time. “I see Brooks a lot, I see DJ a lot, we sort of practice at the same place. I think the more face time you get with some people, the more comfortable you become in some way,” revealed McIlroy.

The golfer also refuted speculations surrounding the relationship between the two golfing factions. Terming the situation as a “nuanced” one, McIlroy said that the Masters was way more important than any interpersonal rivalries.

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“It’s a very nuanced situation and there’s different dynamics. You know, it’s okay to get on with Brooks and DJ and maybe not get on with some other guys that went to LIV, right. It’s interpersonal relationships, that’s just how it goes.”

“But this week and this tournament is way bigger than any of that, I feel, and it’s just great that all of the best players in the world are together again for the first time in what seems to be quite a while.”

Can McIlroy emerge victorious at the Masters this year?

McIlroy’s last major tournament victory came in 2014, when the PGA Tour pro claimed the Open Championship and the PGA Championship titles. However, the much-coveted Masters remains the one major that has eluded him.

During his 2022 outing, McIlroy claimed a runner-up finish at the tournament. Since then, he has been in blistering form, winning the Wells Fargo Championship last month. He also successfully defended his RBC Canadian Open title and made history by winning the FedExCup for a third time.

As the tournament kicks off on April 6, McIlroy will definitely want to end his bid for a career grand slam by claiming the much-coveted green jacket. Whether the former World No.1’s recent fortunes will lead him to a Masters win, only time will tell.

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