McIlroy questions ‘competitive integrity’ of Saudi InternationalDefends right of golfers to play but believes huge fees a problemGone are the days when the only backdrop to the Dubai Desert Classic was the city’s famous skyline. As a number of the world’s top golfers prepared for the 34th staging of this event, all discussion surrounded the Saudi International.
Next week’s event will offer $15m in appearance fees and has become the sport’s bete noire as
Saudi Arabia continues with its pursuit of a super league. Under that plan, hotly contested by the European and PGA Tours, 14 events – mainly US-based – would pay players in telephone numbers simply for involvement. Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau have been routinely linked with the breakaway.