Rory McIlroy believes it would be best for the game of golf if he were to win The 150th Open but said he would not begrudge a player from the rebel LIV Invitational Series if they were to claim the Claret Jug.
Rory McIlroy is a four-times major winner. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The image of a golfer from the breakaway circuit hoisting the treasured trophy at the Home of Golf would be a powerful one and a marketing coup for the LIV Series which has branded itself as the new era for golf.
Despite a steady exodus of high-profile members, including major winners Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka to the controversial Saudi-back venture, the PGA and DP Tours have boasted their tournament fields remain the best the sport can offer.
That claim would suffer if a player from the LIV Series were to walk away with golf's most famous trophy.
"Selfishly, for me, yes, I think it would be better for the game," McIlroy said.
"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.
"I'm not going to begrudge anyone if they win the Claret Jug and they play on a different Tour than I play."
McIlroy has been one of the PGA Tour's most vocal supporters and one of the golf's in form players coming into The Open making the Northern Irishman the hot betting favourite and potentially the ideal champion.
The four-times major winner has not been shy about sharing his opinions about the LIV Series taking shots at some of those who have jumped to the big-money circuit and CEO Greg Norman, a twice Open champion who has been told by organisers the Royal & Ancient to stay away so as not to distract from the 150th anniversary celebrations.
With two wins this season and top 10 finishes at the three majors, including a runner-up result at the Masters, McIlroy is also seen as the man to beat at St. Andrews.
"I'm playing well. I'm in good form," he said. "My confidence in my game is as high as it's been in quite a while.
"I can't go in here thinking that this might be my time. I just have to go out and play a really good tournament.
"To hear your name and winner of the gold medal, Champion Golfer of the Year, it's what dreams are made of."
Americans Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau will be among the early starters when the 150th British Open gets underway at St Andrews on Thursday.
LIV golfer Phil Mickelson will tee off early at The Open. Photo: AFP
Six-times major champion Mickelson tees off at 6.30pm (New Zealand time) two groups ahead of DeChambeau, the long-hitting 2020 U.S. Open winner who will play with 56-year-old fellow American John Daly, the Open champion at St Andrews in 1995.
Defending champion Collin Morikawa goes out with world number two McIlroy and in-form American Xander Schauffele.
"I am the defending champ, but we're at a different golf course. We're at a course I've never been to," Morikawa said.
"Even though my week is filled with a couple of extra media obligations doesn't mean by Thursday morning I'll not be ready. Through two days (here) so far I've done a pretty good job of figuring out what I'm going to do."
Tiger Woods, twice Open champion at St Andrews, begins his bid for a 16th major title alongside Briton Matthew Fitzpatrick who won this year's U.S. Open.
World number one Scottie Scheffler will play with Chile's Joaquin Niemann and Briton Tyrrell Hatton while 2017 Open champion Jordan Spieth is also among the later starters in a group including world number three Jon Rahm of Spain.
Ryan Fox is the second New Zealand golfer to tee off on Thursday at The Open. Photo:
Italian Francesco Molinari, the 2018 Open champion, is among the early starters alongside Britons Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood.
Scotland's Paul Lawrie, the 1999 Open champion, will have the honour of hitting the first ball of the tournament.
"It's always nice to hit the opening shot," Lawrie said. "Looking forward to it. It's a huge week, a big milestone. The more you think about it, it's a nice thing to be asked to do at the 150th Open."
New Zealand's Ben Campbell tees of at 5.46pm on Thursday and Ryan Fox follows at 10.36pm.
-Reuters