McIlroy aims sly dig at LIV golfers who were left “blindsided” by collapse

This is tasty!

During his media duties at the Triust Championship, McIlroy was asked about the recent revelations that the Saudis will no longer fund LIV after 2026.

McIlroy had served as a de-facto spokesperson for the break-away league.

Masters champion, McIlroy admits he was wrong in the past about the idea of PIF billions streaming into the sport.

After their abrupt retreat with their resources, the 37 year old has aimed a subtle dig at the players who weren't aware. (You can view the whole interview below).

Speaking to Sports Illustrated, McIlroy said: "Their priorities shifted, and that leaves LIV in a pretty precarious spot, but that was always a possibility,” he added.

“I feel like a lot of us in this room, including me, we almost knew before the players did that this was going to happen. I was hearing about this back in March, April time.

"I have friends over there. One of my best friends, Ricky McCormick, who's over there, and I would talk to him about what was going on.

"I was saying to Ricky, even before Mexico, ‘Have you guys heard any of this stuff?’ He was like, ‘No, everything seems okay over here’. It feels like the rug was pulled from under their feet and everyone was blindsided by it.

“But that's the risk that those guys chose to take. It leaves…a lot of uncertainty in the air right now. If they do somehow get a schedule together for next year, it's going to look drastically different to what it's looked like over the last four years.” 

McIlroy's successful defence of his Masters crown means a third triumph this week would keep him on course for a calendar Grand Slam.

Win €/£1,000 in our FREE Win-Lose-Draw Predictor

In the age of stats geeks, AI-generated Fantasy teams and nth-degree analysis, we've stripped football knowledge down to its most instinctual form: Win, Lose or Draw.

In JOE's new Premier League Win-Lose-Draw Predictor, you can prove your footballing nous up against your mates, while also being in with a chance of winning €1,000/£1,000 each week.

And if no users predict all results correctly, EVERY player who submitted an entry will be placed into a random prize draw for the €1,000/£1,000.

Two players came within an inch of winning the jackpot last week with 9/10 right - play below for this weekend's fixtures! It takes just a few minutes to enter...