Rory McIlroy: Players Championship missing best players 'a shame'

Rory McIlroy is seeking to win the Players Championship for the second time after victory in 2019

Rory McIlroy is concerned that "fans are losing interest" in watching golf because of the current fragmented nature of the men's professional game.

The financial pull of LIV Golf has attracted dozens of players to move from the PGA Tour to the fledgling Saudi Arabian-funded circuit.

And the split means several of the world's best are not competing at this week's Players Championship in Florida.

"I don't think there is a fast solution," McIlroy told BBC Sport.

"But everyone needs to put their feelings and egos aside and figure out a solution where we can bring all the best players back together week in week out."

The Players Championship is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year but the PGA Tour's $25m flagship event is missing its 2022 winner Cameron Smith and reigning major champions Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm. All three now play on the LIV circuit alongside the likes of fellow major champions Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Sergio Garcia.

"It's the biggest tournament outside of major championship and you don't have all the best players in the world here, that's a shame," added McIlroy.

"I hope that changes quickly because unfortunately I think fans are losing interest.

"In the wider world of golf I think people will tune in four weeks of the year for the majors, but I would like to think golf can be more relevant than just four weeks a year, so the faster we can try to figure this thing out the better."

Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler, who is defending champion this week, has suggested fans who are upset with the fractures in the game should "look at the guys that left".

"We had a tour, we were all together and the people that left are no longer here. That's where the splintering comes from," said the world number one.

"As far as our tour goes we're doing our best to create the best product for the fans, and that's really where we're at."

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has also accepted fans are "tired of hearing about conflict, money and who is getting what", amid ongoing talks to sort out the sport's future.

The American-based PGA Tour, Europe's DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which bankrolls LIV, surprised the golfing world last June when they announced a "framework agreement" to merge interests.

A self-imposed deadline of 31 December to finalise the agreement was not met, but Monahan insists talks are "accelerating" towards a "positive outcome".

'I'm under no illusion that the clock is ticking'

McIlroy competes at the Players Championship for the 14th time this week and is keen to put in a strong performance that will set him up for a period where he will look to end his decade-long search for a fifth major title.

The 34-year-old won the last of his four majors at the 2014 US PGA Championship at Valhalla but has had 19 top-10 finishes since then.

"I'm under no illusion that the clock is ticking," he said.

"It has been 10 years since I've won one of them, and I've had chances and those just haven't gone my way.

"I just need to keep putting myself in those positions and sooner or later it's going to happen."

He is seeking a second win at the Players Championship after victory in 2019. He will then compete at the Texas Open immediately before April's Masters, where victory would see him become just the sixth player to complete a career Grand Slam of winning all four.

But after beginning 2024 with second place in the Dubai Invitational and victory in the Dubai Desert Classic, the world number two has finished no better than 21st in each of his four PGA Tour events.

When asked how his form was coming into the week, McIlroy, who has missed the cut at six of his previous 13 Players, told BBC Sport: "Certain aspects of the game feel as good as ever and certain aspects need work.

"I'm driving the ball as well as I ever have and I really figured out my putting at Bay Hill last week.

"Off the tee and on the green is good, but its getting from fairway to green that's been the problem and I've been working over the past couple of days to rectify things.

"It feels better on the driving range but taking that from the range to the course is the big thing.

"If I can start to see some iron shots starting on line then I think I could have a really good week."