“Typical of Rory, it wasn’t well thought out” Westwood slams LIV comments

Lee Westwood feels Rory McIlroy’s latest jibe towards LIV Golf was not well thought out and typical of the six-time major champion.

Westwood, who is one of several LIV players set to tee it up in the upcoming Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the DP World Tour, feels the presence of players from the Saudi backed tour in European events is proof that they are wanted and that they bring value to the game.

On Wednesday, McIlroy questioned whether LIV players brought value to their own tour when asked if some should be allowed back to the PGA Tour. Westwood slammed the Masters champion in response.

“I really don’t care what people think, to be perfectly honest,” said Westwood on TNT Sports when asked about the criticism aimed towards him over his Dunhill invite.

“I think it illustrates the fact that people like LIV players playing in their events, promoters and sponsors, no matter which tour they’re on. They bring quality to tournaments.

“I heard Rory’s [McIlroy] comments yesterday. I thought Scottie [Scheffler] answered the question well, and Rory’s answer was just typical of Rory, really.

“It wasn’t well thought out. There are a lot of players on this tour who bring value to tournaments.”

While world number one Scottie Scheffler admitted that LIV golfers would strengthen the PGA Tour, McIlroy wasn’t as forgiving towards those who jumped ship for the PIF backed league.

“Eventually, yeah, maybe,” he said of a road back to the PGA Tour for the likes of Jon Rahm or Bryson DeChambeau should LIV Golf 2.0 fail to happen in 2027.

“I mean, look, eventually they will [come back] … but I’m pretty sure they’re not going to be welcomed back straight away.

“If they were offered this returning member programme back in February, the one that Brooks [Koepka] took, then, yeah, maybe. But that has sort of come and gone.

“And I think it was said at the time that the deal that they might get going forward, if they do decide to come back, isn’t going to be as good as the one that Brooks got. So I would say it’s going to be a tough, tough road back.”