Rory McIlroy denies PGA Tour rumour: "I wouldn't say it's meant to send a message"

Rory McIlroy has denied his match with Scottie Scheffler against LIV Golf duo Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau was a message for the PGA Tour. 

McIlroy confirmed last week he will team up with the World No.1 in a made-for-TV match against the five-time major champ and U.S. Open winner in Las Vegas in December. 

It was speculated that the Ulsterman was attempting to send a clear message to the PGA Tour to speed up talks with LIV Golf's Saudi financiers. 

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi PIF have been attempting to agree a peace deal since last June but since that seismic announcement progress has been slow. 

Talks resumed this week in New York, according to ESPN. 

Those talks received criticism from the 9/11 Families because they fell on the 23rd anniversary of the terror attacks. 

McIlroy described the timing of the talks as 'peculiar' in comments to the Irish Independent. 

He also said he was unaware of what exactly was being discussed. 

"I think we're all trying to look for a solution to all this and try to move forward so we'll see," he said. 

Asked about whether he was trying to send a message, McIlroy, 35, said: "I wouldn't say it's meant to send a message, I think it's more that we wanted to do something that I guess all fans could get excited about.

"It's a way to show golf fans and the world this is what could happen, or these are the possibilities going forward.

"I've been saying this for a long time, I think golf and golf fans deserve to see us together more than just four times a year. That's what we’ve tried to do.

Watched our latest YouTube video?