Why won’t Rory McIlroy join the Saudi-backed Super Golf League?

The idea of a rival circuit to golf’s established tours has lingered for over two decades now. Former world number one, Greg Norman, unveiled plans for a breakaway circuit in 2014 but failed to gain traction. However, Greg Norman is back as one of the key players of a Saudi-backed investment into the Asian Tour and is expected to become the commissioner of the Super Golf League. This league wants to pry away the best players in the sport, but Rory McIlroy is one of the big names vehemently opposed to the idea. Here’s why Rory McIlroy won’t join the Saudi-backed Super Golf League.

About Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy is a professional golfer from Northern Ireland and a well-known face in the European and PGA Tours. McIlroy has occupied the number one spot in the Official World Golf Ranking in his career, spending over 100 weeks in that position. Also, he won the US Open in 2011, PGA Championship in 2012, Open Championship in 2014, and PFA Championship in 2014. He is one of three players, alongside Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, to win four majors by age 25. McIlroy was named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year in 2011 and 2014.

The Saudi-backed Super Golf League

Golf is the latest sport struggling to fend off Saudi Arabia’s audacious infiltration into the sports world. Currently, Saudi Arabia is attempting to entice the world’s best golfers away from the European and PGA tours, threatening to completely alter the face of golf as we know it. The controversial move is backed by combined financial incentives that add up to billions, making it incredibly hard to resist for players. Golfers risk being banned or suspended from the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and even the Ryder Cup if they join the Super Golf League. However, these tours are yet to issue definitive statements outlining consequences players will face if they turn their back on them.

The Saudi-backed Super Golf League is relentless in its pursuit of the world’s best golfers. Last week, it was reported that the breakaway circuit had approached Ian Poulter with an enticing $20-$30 million offer to convince him to jump ship. Poulter now has to choose between the riches of the breakaway league or the Ryder Cup captaincy, a tournament that has defined his career so far. Similarly, Lee Westwood appears to have caught the eye of the breakaway circuit after telling reporters he had signed a non-disclosure agreement concerning the matter. However, Rory McIlroy remains opposed to joining the Super League, along with Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Jon Rahm. Presently, these players occupy five of the top seven spots in the world ranking.

McIlroy’s opposition to the Saudi-backed Super Golf League

You will have to pick a different name if your biggest golf bet of the year is McIlroy winning the Super Golf League after joining. This reality is because the North-Irish superstar is vehemently opposed to the idea of the breakaway circuit for the following reasons:

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JANUARY 19: During the Pro-Am prior to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links Golf Course on January 19, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)

• Greg Norman

McIlroy cites Greg Norman as one of the biggest reasons he intends to remain resolute in his stance against the Super Golf League. According to him, the announcement of Norman as the CEO of the Saudi-backed startup company tasked with bringing the Super Golf League to life hardened his opinion even more.

• Concerns About the Super League’s competitive integrity

McIlroy explains that the Super League’s willingness to splash huge sums of cash around would compromise its competitive integrity. According to him, these big-money guarantees can easily prevent players from playing at their highest level. Rory believes that some guys will not compete hard enough when they know that they have a guaranteed huge paycheck waiting for them, regardless of their performance. McIlroy reveals that he struggled in tournaments in Korea and Japan in 2009 due to mere appearance fees, making him feel like he had already won the tournament before he even showed up. Therefore, the mental battle of playing at his best despite a guaranteed huge payday will be all but lost.

• No desire to taint his legacy for a quick payday

The four-time major winner has reiterated that he doesn’t want to join the Super Golf League and risk destroying his legacy for a quick payday. He likened the tournament to the doomed European Super League that threatened to rip football apart some months ago. According to McIlroy, the Super Golf League is nothing more than a money grab, much like the European Super League. Therefore, playing in this tournament is fine as long as money is your primary motivation for playing golf. However, McIlroy wants to cement his place in history and have a legacy of winning the biggest tournaments and championships in the world. He thinks the current structures are fine, and there is no need for a ‘better’ one.

• Ethical concerns

Saudi Arabia’s sketchy human rights record is also one of the reasons why McIlroy refuses to join the Super Golf League. According to him, there was a moral side to his decision due to the country’s global reputation of having a poor human rights record. Amnesty International has famously tagged the competition as another big-money “sportswashing” operation intended to distract everyone from the country’s terrible human rights record.

Nevertheless, he adds that he doesn’t blame anyone for jumping ship since independent contractors can decide where to compete. According to Rory, it is easy to see why the older players whose best days are behind them are accepting the huge payouts to join the Super Golf League.