Canadian Open: Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose agree on merger silence

McIlroy said connected Wednesday that helium inactive hates LIV Golf, but would alternatively person Saudi Arabia's PIF arsenic a partner

Rory McIlroy said helium and Justin Rose agreed not to talk astir the PGA Tour and DP World Tour's LIV Golf merger arsenic they teed disconnected astatine the Canadian Open.

McIlroy and Rose some snubbed joining LIV Golf, which is funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

"Rosie and I said, 'All right, nary chatting until luncheon truthful that we tin really ore connected what we're doing retired there,'" McIlroy said.

"We started to get successful a speech walking down the archetypal [hole] and we're like, 'No, let's halt this. Let's conscionable absorption connected our play and we'll accidental what we privation to accidental erstwhile we get inside.'

"So, it was bully to play a circular of play and absorption connected thing other for those 5 hours we were retired there."

Northern Ireland's McIlroy, a two-time defending champion astatine the Canadian Open, finished the archetypal circular connected one-under-par, portion England's Rose was 2 shots amended disconnected astatine three-under.

Rose's compatriot Aaron Rai had a stock of the clubhouse pb aft hitting a five-under-par 67.

Asked whether helium was bothered by the quality of the merger aft staying "loyal" to the PGA tour, Rose said helium believed LIV players had much to beryllium disquieted about.

"The header seems similar it's conscionable going to beryllium this precise creaseless modulation and, 'Come connected back, boys, it's each done now', Rose said.

"I don't deliberation that's the case. I inactive deliberation I'm blessed wherever I am. I'd astir apt beryllium much acrophobic if I was connected LIV close present than connected the PGA Tour.

"They person sacrificed a batch arsenic good successful presumption of ranking and each these types of things. So, determination mightiness not beryllium specified an casual measurement for a fewer of them if that's the case, if it comes down to, you know, exemptions and what your categories are connected the PGA Tour."

World fig 3 McIlroy, who has been a staunch professional of LIV Golf, said connected Wednesday that the merger volition yet beryllium "good for golf", but helium feels determination should beryllium consequences for the LIV defectors.