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Koepka consulted McIlroy before rejecting Premier Golf League

Keyur Khamar / PGA TOUR / Getty

Brooks Koepka consulted with Rory McIlroy, who's led the charge against the Premier Golf League, before rejecting the rival circuit that's threatening the PGA Tour.

"Brooks did call me a couple of weeks ago and wanted to sort of get my thoughts on it," McIlroy said on SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio. "He wasn't down in Mexico but he saw what I said. He said, 'Look, is that what you really feel?'"

At the WGC-Mexico Championship in February, McIlroy became the first highly ranked player to shut down the idea of joining the PGL, which was looking to collect 48 of the world's top golfers and launch in January 2022.

"I said, 'Yeah Brooks, it's not something that I want to be a part of for a few different reasons,'" McIlroy continued. "I talked about the autonomy that I love having over my schedule and over what I do. I didn't necessarily agree or like where the majority of the money was coming from to fund the tour (the PGL had partnered with financial interests in Saudi Arabia)."

Koepka shunned the PGL on Sunday, saying, "I have a hard time believing golf should be about just 48 players."

The world No. 1 agrees.

"One of the great things about golf is the fact that there are these storylines of the underdog," McIlroy said.

He added: "And as Brooks said, he'd have a tough time looking some of those guys in the eye that don't make that top 48. And with the top guys going to this other league it basically, not puts these other guys out of a job, but it definitely diminishes what they are playing for and what they could earn out on Tour."

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