For Rory McIlroy, the golf world will be a better place if the winner of The Open Championship at St. Andrews this week will not be someone who's defected from the PGA TOUR to the controversial breakaway LIV Golf. That said, McIlroy also made it clear that whoever wins the Claret Jug shouldn't be denied of the accolades, regardless of the winner's golf league association.

Via Tom Hamilton of ESPN:

“Selfishly, for me, yes,” McIlroy said when asked whether The Open winner this year should not be part of LIV Golf. “But at the end of the day, everyone that's here has the same opportunity to go out there and try to win a Claret Jug, regardless of what Tour they play on or whatever that is.

“Whoever wins here at the end of the week should be commended for one of the greatest achievements this game has to offer.”

Among the high-profile LIV Golf pros who are also former members of the PGA TOUR set to tee off this week at St. Andres are Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau.  Mickelson was the first great defector and then was followed by one golfer after another. Money is the most obvious reason why several PGA TOUR players have jumped ship to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, which is something that is not sitting well with McIlroy, who will be looking to win his second win at The Open Championship.

McIlroy first won The Open Championship in 2014 at Royal Liverpool.

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