Saudi Arabia is pushing hard on sporting events in Kingdom and some of the world’s top golfers have been offered huge fees to appear in the European Tour event at the end of January.
Tiger Woods reportedly turned down $10m and Rory McIlory also knocked back a big offer, while Phil Mickelson has been criticised for taking the money.
Discussing the event McIlory said it just didn’t appeal to him and that he would rather play in front of bigger crowds in America.
“It’s just not something that would excite me,” McIlroy told The Golf Channel.
“One hundred percent, there’s a morality to it as well…
“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.
“I think the atmosphere looks better at the events on the West Coast and I’d much rather play in front of big golf fans and play in a tournament that really excites me.”
