Rory McIlroy described Brooks Koepka as deceitful after the four-times main winner defected to the breakaway LIV Golf Invitational Collection on Wednesday, then urged the PGA and European Excursions to hitch forces in opposition to the Saudi-backed enterprise.
Koepka, a former world primary, grew to become the newest large title to hitch the profitable LIV Collection, becoming a member of a listing that features six-times main champion Phil Mickelson, former Masters champion Dustin Johnson and former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau.
Among the many PGA Tour's most vocal backers, McIlroy, chatting with the media forward of this week's Vacationers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, criticised Koepka and others for turning their backs on the PGA Tour after beforehand expressing their assist.
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"Am I shocked? Sure, due to what he (Koepka) stated beforehand," stated the Northern Irishman who has moved as much as quantity two on the earth rankings following a profitable title defence on the Canadian Open and tie for fifth on the US Open.
"That is why I am shocked at numerous these guys as a result of they are saying one factor after which they do one other.
"It is fairly duplicitous on their half to say one factor after which do one other factor."
The PGA Tour has suspended members who signed as much as play with LIV Golf and stated others who comply with them will face the identical punishment.
Nonetheless, they had been in a position to play on the US Open final week and got the all-clear by the R&A on Wednesday to tee it up at The British Open at St Andrews from July 14-17.
The LIV Collection will play its first American occasion in Portland, Oregon from June 30-July 2 on the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Membership, going head-to-head with the PGA Tour's John Deere Basic.
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Bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Funding Fund (PIF), LIV Golf held its first occasion in London this month which was gained by South Africa's Charl Schwartzel, who pocketed the $4 million prize -- the largest pay cheque in golf historical past.
With more-and-more gamers tempted by the huge purses of the LIV Collection, McIlroy known as on the PGA and DP (previously European) Excursions to come back up a plan.
"I've at all times advocated for one thing the place the excursions work extra intently collectively or we create some type of world tour mannequin or ATP mannequin," stated the four-times main winner.
"I want to see the PGA Tour and the European Tour begin to work extra intently collectively and possibly attempt to forge a path to the place all the largest golf occasions on the earth are underneath the identical umbrella."
