Rory McIlroy has been among the most outspoken golfers against the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Tour, and he has once again come out strongly against the competition.
McIlroy's latest comments came in the aftermath of Ian Poulter's ban from the Scottish Open being overturned after an appeal.
Poulter is one of those who has signed up for the LIV Series, and was initially banned from playing at the event at the Renaissance Club. The Englishman's appeal, however, was upheld, and he will be allowed to play at the tournament, which starts on Thursday.
McIlroy blasted the decision in an interview with the BBC, saying that those who had made the decision to defect to LIV should not be allowed to return to play on PGA and DP World Tour events.
Rory McIlroy: "You're leaving your peers to go make more money"
Rory McIlroy has repeatedly slammed the LIV Golf series, and questioned the decision of his peers to play in the Saudi-backed event.
Ian Poulter, alongside his fellow LIV Golf-ers Justin Harding and Adrian Otaegui, will play at the Scottish Open this weekend after the DP World Tour's decision to ban them was overturned.
Speaking to the BBC ahead of the tournament, McIlroy said:
I think, at this stage, if you go over to play on a different tour, then go over and play on a different tour. You're basically leaving all of your peers behind to go make more money, which is fine.
But just go over there. Don't try and come back and play over here again.
This whole having your cake and eating it type thing is where the resentment [stems from] within the [PGA and DP tour] membership.
For me, I don't resent anyone. A lot of these guys are my friends and they're still going to be my friends regardless of the decisions they make.
Rory McIlroy is not the first this week to slam the LIV crew. Earlier this week, Billy Horschel also criticised those on the tour, calling those on the tour "hypocrites".
5 July 2022; Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland during day two of the JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor Golf Club in Adare, Limerick. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
The comments from McIlroy are certainly strong, but he is still keen for a resolution to be found.
He went on to suggest that a peace settlement should be pursued by all involved, and that he is determined not to fall out with his old friends over their decision to play in the LIV Series:
At the end of the day it will sort itself out. Everyone has to pivot and change and try to be better and hopefully get to that stage but as you said now it's messy and all the narrative isn't good.
It's splitting the game instead of everyone coming together. I think everyone needs to come together a little bit more.
Rory McIlroy is one of the form golfers in the world this season and, after last month's Canadian Open triumph, he will be looking to add to his tally of Majors next weekend at the Open Championship.
He is looking to win a Major for the first time since 2014, when he won the Open alongside the PGA Championship. You'd hazard a guess that the Northern Irishman has been fuelled by the latest LIV controversy.
Rory and Tiger are playing Ballybunion together today in Ireland 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/QnQICKQShx
— Rory McIlroy Tracker (@RMTracker) July 7, 2022
He warmed up in perfect style on Thursday afternoon by playing a round at Ballybunion with American golfing legend Tiger Woods.
SEE ALSO: Graeme McDowell Surprised By Backlash, But Doesn't Regret LIV Golf Move
