The likes of Rory McIlroy and his PGA peers who stood up to the breakaway LIV Golf series were left stunned on Tuesday, with the out-of-the-blue announcement that the series were to merge, along with the DP World Tour.
McIlroy has notably been one of the loudest voices to speak out against LIV Golf since its inception last year and, like his fellow PGA Tour players, he was left blindsided by the decision to merge the two tours.
READ HERE: These Rory McIlroy Quotes From 2022 Make For Interesting Reading After LIV/PGA Truce
Several PGA stars, such as Collin Morikawa, took to social media on Tuesday to reveal that the press releases regarding the merger were the first information players had received on the matter, drawing into question the process by which it was arranged.
Crisis talks took place between PGA Tour players soon afterwards, ahead of this weekend's Canadian Open - with Rory McIlroy reported to have clashed with fellow player Grayson Murray in a foul-mouthed tit-for-tat.
Rory McIlroy tells rival player to "play better"
In the aftermath of Tuesday's bombshell news of the PGA-DP World-LIV tour merger, PGA players in Toronto for the Canadian Open held crisis talks with Jay Monahan, the tour's commissioner.
The Times reported on Wednesday that several players had called on Monahan to resign as a response to his public dishonesty in slamming LIV while arranging the merger deal with them behind the scenes.
In the 75 minute meeting, Monahan attempted to justify the decision to collaborate with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) on the merger, and the decision to keep high-profile supporters of the PGA Tour such as Rory McIlroy and Woods out of the loop.
One of the most outspoken players was American golfer Grayson Murray, who drew the ire of McIlroy with some of his comments.
Grayson Murray of United States in action during the 2017 CIMB Classic golf tournament at TPC Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Kiara (Photo: Shutterstock)
In the Telegraph's report, it is suggested that McIlroy grew frustrated when Murray told Monahan "we don't trust you, Jay, you lied to our faces."
McIlroy then reportedly told Murray to "just play better" - to which the American responded with "fuck off."
Though the pair were said to have cleared the air after the meeting, it speaks to the divide that has been caused on the PGA Tour by the decision to link up with a tour which has positioned itself as such a bitter rival.
Another PGA player Johnson Wagner suggested that 90% of the players at the meeting with Monahan on Tuesday night were against the PGA-LIV merger, while Monahan responded to suggestions of hypocrisy by thanking the players who had stood by the tour in the face of eye-watering offers from LIV.
The LIV Golf debate has taken a hugely unexpected turn, and we imagine the intensity of the divide may only be amplified by the decision to merge with the PGA Tour.
Rory McIlroy enters this weekend's Canadian Open seeking a third consecutive victory at the event, with the third major of the year just around the corner with the US Open taking place next weekend.
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