RIDGELAND, S.C. — Rory McIlroy understands why Phil Mickelson said the LIV Golf circuit is trending up and the PGA Tour is trending down, but he doesn’t agree with the six-time major champion’s assessment of the current state of men’s professional golf.
“I don’t agree with what Phil said last week,” McIlroy said Wednesday ahead of this week’s CJ Cup at Congaree Golf Club. “I understand why he said it because of the position he is in, but I don’t think anyone that takes a logical view of the game of golf can agree with what he said.”
The field for the CJ Cup includes 15 of the top 20 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. Only one LIV golfer, Australia’s Cameron Smith, is currently ranked in the top 20. LIV golfers haven’t received points for where they finished in LIV Golf’s first seven events.
“I guess for them to be talking the way they are, it’s bold,” said McIlroy,…
