Rory McIlroy has described Brooks Koepka and others who have joined the LIV Golf series as "duplicitous" for how they have behaved.
Earlier this week, Koepka, a four-time major winner, became the latest PGA Tour golfer to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series.
"Yes, because of what he said previously," said McIlroy on Wednesday when asked if he was surprised by Koepka's decision.
"I think that's why I'm surprised at a lot of these guys because they say one thing and then they do another, and I don't understand that and I don't know if that's for legal reasons or if they can't. I have no idea.
"But it's pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing."
McIlroy added that he was surprised due to what Koepka had said, "The whole way through. The whole way through, in public and private, all of it."
🗣️ "They say one thing and then do another."
Rory McIlroy says he was 'surprised' by Brooks Koepka's decision to join the LIV Invitational Series. pic.twitter.com/N0xXDcvolq— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 22, 2022
World number one Scottie Scheffler said it was "definitely a surprise" for him to see Koepka join LIV Golf.
"I was at a function with him last week and definitely wasn't what he had in mind," said Scheffler.
"We were focused on building the PGA Tour and getting the guys that are staying here together and kind of just having talks and figuring out what how we can help benefit the tour. So to see Brooks leave was definitely a surprise for us.
"With that being said, he's made his decision. I'm not going to knock him for doing that. He made the decision that's best for him and I'm not going to be one to judge him on that.
"For me, it's not where I see myself heading anytime soon. I grew up wanting to be on the PGA Tour. I grew up of dreaming of playing in these events.
"I didn't grow up in playing in the Centurion Club in London or whatever it is. I grew up wanting to play in the Masters. I grew up wanting to play in Austin. I grew up wanting to play Colonial, the Byron Nelson.
"I wouldn't trade those memories for anything at this moment in time. Those memories, to me, are invaluable. I would never risk going and losing the opportunity to bring, go back to Augusta every year or to do any of it. There's nothing that I would want to do right now that would risk having any sort of effects on the way my life is now."
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler says he wouldn't trade in his PGA Tour memories anytime soon in response to Brooks Koepka joining the LIV Invitational Series. pic.twitter.com/7Dr1WC1bkW
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 23, 2022
Scheffler added that he does not think there is any amount of money which could change his mind about staying on the PGA Tour.
"I think if there was, there's a place you can find it now (laughing)," he said.
"Like I said, the money that we have on the PGA TOUR, I never dreamt of playing for this much money as I do now. I mean, I can't, I don't know, I don't know how much money I've made this year, but it's definitely more than I deserve for whacking a little white golf ball around.
"Like Rory said, when you're making decisions purely based off of financial reasons and fear-based stuff, it doesn't always work out what's best. For me, it definitely hasn't worked out best in the past, whatever I was doing. If I was doing it purely for financial reasons, for me, it's not what works.
"For other people maybe it is. I'm not going to sit here and tell them what they should or shouldn't do. For me, playing golf on the PGA TOUR is well-compensated plenty for how I, for what I do for a living."
Picture credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com
See Also: Brooks Koepka's Angry LIV Golf Interview Now Makes Perfect Sense
