RORY McILROY warned his Ryder Cup pals who joined the Saudi-backed breakaway tour for the money: This won’t end well.
Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell are all playing in today’s controversial LIV Invitational Series opener in St Albans.
US stars Bryson DeChambeau, Rickie Fowler and Patrick Reed will also join the rebel league.
Poulter and Westwood have urged Ryder Cup chiefs not to ban them from the event.
But McIlroy declared: “Any decision you make in your life that’s made purely for money usually doesn’t end up going the right way.
“Obviously money is a deciding factor on a lot of things in this world, but if it’s purely for money, it never seems to go the way you want it to.
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“I’ve had that a couple of times in my life.”
Six-time Majors winner Phil Mickelson – who has been paid a staggering £160m to play – yesterday defended his participation in the breakaway tour after previously branding the Saudi backers “scary m***********s.”
But McIlroy added: “My stance on it has been pretty clear from the start.
“It’s not something I want to participate in. I certainly understand the guys that have, I understand their goals and ambitions.
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“It’s their life and their decision, but I want to play on the PGA Tour against the best players in the world.”
The rebel tour has sparked civil war in the sport, with players who have signed up facing PGA sanctions.
McIlroy, 33, added: “It’s a weird time in professional golf. We are going to have to see how this plays out and see what the consequences are.
“Right now, it’s not something I envisage ever doing. I am happy playing on the PGA Tour.”
Westwood’s 11 appearances make him Europe’s most experienced Ryder Cup player, while Poulter branded himself “The Postman” because he “always delivers.”
Both now face being banned, but Poulter, 46, said: “I’d like to think it wouldn’t put that in jeopardy.
“It was a factor but it’s an unknown risk, right. We don’t know how DP World Tour are going to view it.
“All the golf I’ve played around the world in all different countries and different tours, I don’t see why this should be any different.
“I definitely see other top players wanting to be a part of this.”
Westwood, who was expected to be named as Europe’s 2023 captain before ruling himself out of contention, added: “That’s something I have to take into account.
“I’m 50 next April, so I’m not sure about the playing days, but captaincy could be in jeopardy.
“Both of us are members of the PGA Tour while we are in the European Tour.
“That’s had no effect in the past on people having been captains and LIV Golf is another tour, so why should it be any different?”
Westwood was unapologetic about his decision to take the dough and a share of the £20m prize fund on offer over the next three days at the Centurion Club.
He added: “I’m a professional golfer, I do it as a living.
“If there’s a pay increase, then, at my age, I’d be stupid not to take it.”
Westwood adopted the term “independent contractor” to justify his stance, pointing out: “We have all played in Saudi Arabia already, been given releases by the PGA Tour and the European Tour have held events there. This is no different.”
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The pair, though, were less comfortable when asked if there was “anywhere in the world” they would not play, including Vladimir Putin’s Russian or South Africa during the Apartheid era.
Poulter said: “That’s speculation. I don’t need to answer that.”
Westwood echoed: “We can’t answer a hypothetical question.”
