[Golf Topic] 'Number 1' McIlroy "No Interest in Premier Golf League"

Rory McIlroy (left) is smiling brightly during a practice round at the Mexico Championship. Mexico City (Mexico) = Getty Images / Multibi

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…World No. 1 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) has expressed his intention not to participate in the newly launched 'Premier Golf League (PGL)'.

At a press conference held a day before the second event of the World Golf Championships (WGC) series, the Mexico Championship (total prize money $10.5 million), which opens on the night of the 20th (Korean time) at Chapultepec Golf Club in Mexico City, Mexico (par 71, 7,345 yards), he said, "The more I think about it, the less I like it," and "I will not participate in the PGL." He added, "I believe that autonomy and freedom in joining a new league are important," and "I will respect the choices of other players."

The PGL is a new golf tour set to launch in 2022. It is known to be backed financially by New York Wall Street investment banks, and even Las Vegas sports gambling companies have shown interest in investing. The league will feature 18 tournaments with a total prize fund of $240 million (approximately 285.6 billion KRW). Although this is about half of the current PGA Tour's total prize money of $400 million, the number of tournaments is fewer, so the prize money per event is higher, which is noteworthy.

Unlike the PGA Tour, which features 150 players, only 48 players will compete in the PGL without any 'cut-off'. The winner's prize money will reach $5 million (approximately 5.95 billion KRW). With the PGA Tour declaring that it will prohibit players from participating concurrently in the PGL, a clash between the two organizations seems inevitable. The PGL has already contacted top players including the 'resurrected golf emperor' Tiger Woods, veteran Phil Mickelson, and world No. 4 Justin Thomas (all from the United States).