(Reuters) – Rory McIlroy mentioned he seen golfers as “unbiased contractors” and that the PGA and European excursions ought to enable gamers to compete within the Saudi Worldwide in February.
The Saudi Worldwide, which shall be on the Asian Tour schedule in 2022, has launched a listing https://www.golfsaudi.com/en-us/golf-saudi/information/2022-player-field of confirmed golfers, together with high-profile names akin to Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson.
The PGA Tour has but to grant waivers to Tour members https://www.reuters.com/life-style/sports activities/johnson-dechambeau-mickelson-confirmed-saudi-international-2021-11-29, citing a battle of occasions as motive for the delay. The non-PGA Saudi occasion is scheduled to happen over the identical weekend because the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am.
“In my view, I feel the Tour ought to grant releases. It is an Asian Tour occasion, it is an occasion that has official golf world rankings,” McIlroy mentioned.
“I do see the reason why they would not grant releases, however I feel in the event that they’re attempting to do what’s finest for his or her members, and their members are going to a spot aside from the PGA Tour and having the ability to earn that cash, I imply, we’re unbiased contractors, and I really feel like we should always be capable of try this,” he mentioned.
“I ought to be capable of go play the place I need if I’ve the credentials and I’ve the eligibility to take action. I might say many of the gamers on tour could be in an identical opinion to me.”
The Saudi Worldwide has invited controversy since its inception in 2019 as a consequence of allegations of human rights abuses towards the Saudi authorities.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Modifying by Tom Hogue)
