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McIlory won't "tarnish reputation" by joining Saudi breakaway tour


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Rory McIlroy said he won't risk tarnishing his reputation by joining the rebel, Saudi-backed Super Golf League.

The four-time Major-winner has been a frequent and outspoken critic of the breakaway tour, recently slamming its lack of "competitive integrity".

PGA Tour player Kramer Hickok has claimed that as many as seventeen players have already signed up for the Super Golf League, which is fronted by Greg Norman.

But speaking to Golf Digest ahead of this week's Genesis Invitational, McIlroy insisted he would not be joining them.

“Look, I’ve lived it - for the top guys, all that money really isn’t going to change their life,” he said.

“I’m in a way better financial position than I was a decade ago and my life is no different. I still use the same three, four rooms in my house.

"I just don’t see the value in tarnishing a reputation for extra millions.”

McIlroy added, "I understand the financial part of it for guys that are later on in their career.

"You look at the people that have already said no, Rahm, No. 1 in the world, Collin Morikawa, myself.

"Like you've got the top players in the world are saying no, so that has to tell you something."

Max Homa is defending his Genesis Invitational title at Riviera this week, and he's another insisting he won't be leaving the PGA Tour.

"Everything through this golf tournament that has made me get the chills as I talk about it and get the chills as I drive up here and think 'what the hell' when I see my picture on things out on the golf course that I grew up to love, I would not be getting that anywhere else," said Homa, "That's my allegiance, I guess."

He added, "No, money matters, I'm not saying it doesn't, but I'm just saying no one's offered me a dollar to play the thing, so at this point, when I think about what makes me happy at the moment, money makes me comfortable, it hasn't made me happy.

"When I come to an event like this, it even puts more perspective on how much I enjoy playing on the PGA Tour.

"Never say never to things. And again, I know nothing. I don't even know -- I know there's going to be some captains and teams, I don't know anything past that.

"So it's really hard to formulate an opinion about something that you know nearly nothing about.

"I guess my point is what I do know about is the PGA Tour. I've played it for a little over a handful of years and it's created some really awesome memories for me.

"So at the moment I would say I'm pretty biased, I very much enjoy playing out here.

"I think they've done a great job of giving us an opportunity to compete for something we love. And if you do love money, too, we play for a lot of that out here, too. It's not so bad."

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Bryson DeChambeau Genesis Invitational PGA Tour Rory McIlroy Saudi Arabia Saudi Golf League

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