Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
PA

Rory McIlroy says morality played part in turning down invite to Saudi Arabia event

Rory McIlroy has ruled out competing at next month's European Tour event in Saudi Arabia.

Fifteen-time major winner Tiger Woods revealed last week that he had turned down an invitation to play in the second edition of the Saudi International.

World number one Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson - who won the inaugural tournament in February - and five-time major champion Phil Mickelson are among those who will compete in the event which gets under way on January 30.

Saudi Arabia's human rights record has been described as "heinous" by Amnesty International.

Northern Ireland golfer McIlroy, who refused to deny a report that he had been offered a 2.5million US dollars (£1.9m) appearance fee to play at the Saudi International, told the Golf Channel: "It's just not something that would excite me.

"You could say that about so many countries, not just Saudi Arabia, but a lot of countries that we play in that there's a reason not to go, but for me, I just don't want to go.

"One hundred percent, there's a morality to it as well.

"I think the atmosphere looks better at the events on the west coast (of USA) and I'd much rather play in front of big golf fans and play in a tournament that really excites me."

Britain's Anthony Joshua won his heavyweight boxing title fight against Andy Ruiz Jr in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh at the weekend.

The Middle East country can also count Formula E and WWE Wrestling among its growing sporting portfolio.

Keep up-to-date with all the very latest news, what's on, sport and everything else in Belfast and beyond with the Belfast Live app.

Only select news that interests you by picking the topics you want to display on the app's homepage. Plus, our enhanced user experience includes live blogs, video, interactive maps and slick picture galleries. Download it now and get involved.

Click here to get it from the App Store or here for Google Play

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.