McIlroy left surprised as further stars leave

WORLD No 2 Rory McIlroy has labelled the players who have joined the LIV Golf Series “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.

Fellow four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, whose brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month, is the latest star to sign up to the Saudi-backed invitational events.

The former world No 1 will play in the second 54-hole, 48-man tournament – which has a prize fund of $25 million (£20.4m) – in Portland, Oregon, next week but only a few days ago the 32-year-old, who will be suspended by the PGA Tour as a result of his decision, complained that questions on the topic at Brookline were throwing a “black cloud” over the US Open.

In March, former world No 1 Dustin Johnson stressed his full commitment to the PGA Tour only to perform a U-turn three months later and that sort of behaviour annoys McIlroy, who is on the tour’s player advisory council.

Asked whether he was surprised by Koepka’s decision before it was officially announced, the Northern Irishman said: “Am I surprised? Yes, because of what he said previously.

“I think that’s why I’m surprised at a lot of these guys because they say one thing and then they do another and I don’t understand.

“I don’t know if that’s for legal reasons or if they can’t – I have no idea – but it’s pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing. In public and in private.”

LIV Golf confirmed later yesterday that Koepka had joined the breakaway tour and will compete at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland.

“The addition of Brooks is yet another example of the incredible fields LIV Golf is assembling as we build momentum in our first season and look towards the future,” said LIV Golf Chief executive officer and commissioner Greg Norman.

McIlroy is playing in the Travelers’ Championship in Connecticut this week, his fourth event in a row, and he admits it is taking its toll.

“I definitely feel like a little bit of fatigue (is) setting in. I got a night in my own bed down in Florida on Monday night, which was really nice, but I came back up here yesterday and played the pro-am today,” he said.

“I must say yesterday my head hit the pillow and I was out so (some) mental fatigue after sitting through a five-hour board meeting (with tour officials) and trying to get through some of these issues.”

World No 5 Justin Thomas, who finished joint 37th at last week’s US Open, withdrew from the Travelers’ Championship on Wednesday with a back problem.

“Before the rumours start flying, I have decided to withdraw to treat and rest my back which I tweaked earlier this week,” Thomas said.

Rory McIlroy is set to compete in his fourth consecutive tournament.