A clutch of players who joined the Saudi-backed tour are taking part in this week's Open after organisers the R&A opted not to ban the rebels, in contrast to moves made by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
ST ANDREWS - The 150th British Open tees off on the Old Course in St Andrews on Thursday with organisers keen for the focus to remain on a historic championship despite the ongoing fallout caused by the breakaway LIV Golf series.
"This is a golf tournament. The Open is about having the best players in the world playing, and I want to see who shoots the lowest score come Sunday night." "It undermines the merit-based culture and the spirit of open competition that makes golf so special," he added. "Being the home of golf and the Open Championship definitely amplifies things a bit, but that's across the board," the 26-year-old said on Wednesday.
McIlroy, meanwhile, goes out at 9:58am with Morikawa and Xander Schauffele, the Olympic champion who won last week's Scottish Open. Stiff breezes may put paid to any prospect of a record low score being posted, with the current best round at a major Branden Grace's 62 at Birkdale in 2017.
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