Rory McIlroy rejects Premier Golf League as PGA Tour alternative: ‘I’m out’

The world's No. 1-ranked golfer isn't interested, and that's a big blow to a group looking to usurp the PGA Tour.

Rory McIlroy spoke out against the Premier Golf League while getting ready to play in Mexico this week, noting that money isn't everything (for him) and he values the current flexibility and control of his schedule.

The drive behind the Premier Golf League is to create elite 48-man fields, with a total prize pool of $240 million. The catch? A participant has to play all 18 events, which would cost a player his PGA Tour membership and make for a busy schedule if the plan was to still compete in the four major championships.

"The more I've thought about it, the more I don't like it," McIlroy said Wednesday. "I've never been one for being told what to do, and I like to have that autonomy and freedom over my career, and I feel like I would give that up by going to play this other league.

"For me, I'm out. My position is I'm against it until there may come a day that I can't be against it. If everyone else goes, I might not have a choice. But at this point, I don't like what they're proposing."

McIlroy is the first top player to speak out against Premier Golf League. Others, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, have said they are aware of the proposed tour and still are gathering information.

"Tiger is 44. He's got two young kids," McIlroy said. "He openly said last week he wants to play 12 times a year, so this league is proposing 18. So he's not going to do it."

Premier Golf League officials are eyeing a 2022 launch.