Are there any major stumbling blocks delaying the merger? Well, Rory McIlroy seems to think there is, and he might be right, you know. “It’s DOJ and the… differing opinions of the players,” said the Northern Irishman when asked about the same ahead of the upcoming BMW PGA Championship. Hard to agree with him? You will have to, for a certain PGA Tour Pro came forward to prove him right, just moments after his reveal. Enter Michael Kim.
The professional shared a tweet on his X handle while replying to McIlroy’s recent revelations. “My short answer is No,” wrote the golfer to the question of whether he wants a deal or not before expressing his distaste for the whole ordeal. “It will not affect my bottom line,” added Kim while alluding to the deal, “It won’t change my schedule in the slightest bit and won’t change my earnings.” But then what would it change as per the 31-year-old? Only the top 30 athletes on the circuit would get affected, per the American pro since they’ll be the ones making the most money following the deal.
Do I want a deal?
My short answer is No but I don’t care much.Whether the tour and LIV make a deal or not, it will not affect my bottom line. It won’t change my schedule in the slightest bit and won’t change my earnings. This realistically only affects the top 30ish golfers on… https://t.co/ReOQTyRYOa
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 18, 2024
He also expressed his disbelief at the LIV golfers bringing more interest to the PGA Tour. “It’s not gonna be a big mashup,” conveyed Kim as he added, “it’s only going to be for a few events with a big purse if I were to guess.” But then what would make a bigger and better difference, according to Kim? “Make the TV product much better,” was his answer after adding a disclaimer to the same. “I might be totally wrong but that’s my opinion.”
While the pro did add on how “petty” it was for them to sue the Tour in the first place, he also made sure to point out how the defectors need to be given some sort of penalty for leaving, “There needs to be a consequence to their decision to leave and SUE the tour.” Rory McIlroy, on the other hand, would disagree with Kim’s statements. “Let them come back,” said the 35-year-old following Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton’s defection at the start of 2024. “I think it’s hard to punish people. I don’t think there should be a punishment.”
But then again, Michael Kim did not stop there but took to the comments section as well to solve the doubts of his fans. While some were not so believing of his plans following the tweet, others were outrightly against the golfer’s point of view while taking a jab at him.
Michael Kim gives the cold shoulder to LIV Golf Pros
One fan couldn’t believe the golfer when he highlighted how adding 30-40 players into the field following the merger wouldn’t change his schedule. “Most guys’ status has run out,” replied Kim under the tweet that was posted as a response to Rory McIlroy’s interview, “It’s not going to be open season where everyone on LIV all of a sudden gets status on the PGA tour. Only a select few guys would play the elevated events and they wouldn’t play the regular events.”
Another fan, meanwhile, couldn’t seem to bring their head around how Kim would remain unaffected if the purse and the number of events were decreased after bringing in LIV golfers. What’s more, they also took to bash the golfer’s way of thinking by calling out the same. His reply? “That’s on the guys leading the tour and has to do with the TV product,” said the pro, “Way way less to do with LIV imo… I just don’t think bringing back a few guys will change much.”
Anyhow, it was quite a strong response by Kim following Rory McIlroy’s recent interview. He sure did prove the 4-time major champ right by revealing how he was part of the latter group of golfers that didn’t want the merger to happen. What do you think? Do you agree with Kim?
The post PGA Tour Pro Brushes Off Rory McIlroy’s Confession & Sidelines PIF Merger With Bold Remarks: ‘Won’t Change’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.