World No.1 McIlroy says no to Premier Golf League

Newly crowned World No.1 Rory McIlroy has closed the door on his participation in the proposed Premier Golf League.

The 18-event world tour is said to feature a field of 48 top players in 12 four-man teams playing for a total prize fund of US$240 million.

Rory McIlroy (Credit: PGA Tour)

Everyone from Tiger Woods to Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy have been approached by the British-based World Golf Group, who is hoping to shake up the golfing world with their new concept.

The only problem is that you need the world’s best players to have any chance at getting the PGL off the ground and it seems the current World No.1 is not going to be there on the first tee if, and when, the first tournament kicks off.

“For me, I’m out. The more I’ve thought about it, the more I don’t like it,” said McIlroy when asked this week ahead of the WGC-Mexico Championship.

“The one thing as a professional golfer in my position that I value is the fact that I have autonomy and freedom over everything that I do.”

“Some guys this week made the choice to not come to Mexico. If you go and play this other golf league, you’re not going to have that choice.”

“I’ve never been one for being told what to do, and I like to have that autonomy and freedom over my career, and I feel like I would give that up by going to play this other league.”

The PGL faces a tough road ahead with many of the players they need to make it a success are happy to stay on the PGA Tour and make more than enough money to spend in a lifetime.

Meanwhile the second-tier players that aren’t making a good living on Tour will be the ones prepared to take a chance with a new concept but they won’t attract the sponsorship dollars or the big galleries.

With the clock ticking on the 2022 launch date, time is quickly running out and all signs so far don’t look good for the future of the breakout league.