ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy described LIV Golf solution expand its events to 72 holes as “specials.”
The Saudi-funded breakaway tour will be more in line with traditional golf tours, moving from three rounds to four next year.
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The format change could improve LIV's chances of recognition in the Official World Golf Ranking, which is critical as four major golf clubs use its list to determine their courses.
The OWGR rejected LIV's request for world ranking points when the league began, largely due to concerns that the same 54 players remained throughout the year, with the exception of reserves replacing injured players, and that the team competition could affect the integrity of the individual competition since it was based on the same results.
McIlroy has been outspoken about how LIV has ruined the golf world, so he was asked how he felt about the move to 72 holes when he spoke at a press conference ahead of the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
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“I think it's kind of a move,” McIlroy said, “because I think they could get ranking points in three rounds. I don't think three rounds against four is what held them back.
“It's certainly more in line with traditional golf tournaments than what we've all been doing,” he added. “It brings them back to the fact that they're not really disruptors, and in some ways they're more in line with what everyone else is doing. But if that's what they thought they needed to do to get ranking points, I think that's what they needed to do.”
McIlroy wondered how many ranking points would be offered at LIV Golf events.
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“Because their field strength is going to be so weak because a lot of guys have already dropped in the rankings because they haven't had ranking points for so long, I don't know if ranking points are really going to benefit them,” McIlroy said.
“Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how it turns out.”
McIlroy is playing in the Abu Dhabi tournament for the 12th time. He has nine top-three finishes but has never won.
The Northern Irishman leads the Race to Dubai standings all season with two events to play and victory this week would take him closer to a seventh Order of Merit title – one shy of Colin Montgomerie's record catch.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
