Before competing in The Players Championship, Rory McIlroy found himself in need of a specific set of golf clubs

Rory McIlroy supported the idea of moving big events outside of America and pointed to one tournament that he believes should be elevated.

Credit Rory McIlroy, then, for spinning the conversation forward. McIlroy has taken plenty of shots at LIV Golf over the last three years, some of which he's had to walk back. But one element of LIV's strategy has struck a chord with McIlroy: the breakaway league's international focus.

Whether negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund result in a reunification of professional golf or not, Rory McIlroy said he believes that competition at the highest level of the game needs to be more global.

One of the biggest questions around unification is how many events should have the top players and the world No. 2 shared an idea at the Players Championship.

If context is king, Rory McIlroy’s press conference early Wednesday at The Players Championship certainly needs its share of qualifiers. On the eve of the circuit’s flagship event, the Northern Irishman was asked about a potential career on the PGA Tour Champions and the headlines were immediately predictable: “McIlroy on senior tour: Absolutely not.