Resigned Rory McIlroy facing up to bitter reality of modern sport

Hearing what was essentially ‘this is where sport and the world is going. Get on with it’ from someone who had so vocally insisted it didn’t have to go this way was jarring

RESIGNED: Rory McIlroy speaks to the media about the deal merging the PGA Tour and European tour with Saudi Arabia's golf interests at the Canadian Open golf tournament in Toronto. Pic: Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP

Rory McIlroy was not short of a word or two. To be fair, he rarely is. Searingly honest, open to a fault more than a few times down the years, he can reflect eloquently on the most major of moments with a minimum of prep time.

That’s what’s made him such a forceful advocate, the booming beacon of resistance for the PGA Tour in the golf wars of the past 18 months. And it’s what made his first offerings on the stunning covert peace deal agreed with the Saudis behind his back on Tuesday so widely and hotly anticipated.