Rory McIlroy has called it a "shame" that not all of the world's best golfers are in the field for the Players Championship with LIV players still not allowed to compete on the PGA Tour.
The Players Championship is regarded as the 'fifth major' with the best players in the world regularly lining up for the prestigious event.
But this year's tournament doesn't have the likes of Jon Rahm, Tyrell Hatton, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau or Dustin Johnson among others lining up.
McIlroy ultimately feels fans are the biggest losers with the TPC Sawgrass tournament missing some of the biggest names in golf.
Rory McIlroy wants the best players playing at The Players Championship
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Billy Horschel feels the PGA Tour should offer an "olive branch" to LIV Golf for events like the Players Championship to ensure it lives up to expectations.
Jay Monahan was asked this week about the ongoing merger talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf with no finish line seemingly in sight despite the commissioner stating progress has been made.
But McIlroy has called on everybody involved to put their "egos aside" quickly to get professional golf back on an even keel.
"I don't think there is a fast solution," McIlroy told BBC.
"But everyone needs to put their feelings and egos aside and figure out a solution where we can bring all the best players back together week in week out.
"It's the biggest tournament outside of major championship and you don't have all the best players in the world here, that's a shame.
"I hope that changes quickly because unfortunately, I think fans are losing interest.
"In the wider world of golf I think people will tune in four weeks of the year for the majors, but I would like to think golf can be more relevant than just four weeks a year, so the faster we can try to figure this thing out the better."
Rory McIlroy fears fans are losing interest
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Justin Thomas agrees that a solution needs to be made in order to get the best players playing against one another on a regular basis again.
“Not every NFL game is a Pro Bowl, but it essentially it is, right?” Thomas said.
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Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka are not playing at TPC Sawgrass
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“Because it’s all the best in their specific sport... there’s nothing better than Sundays when you can just sit on the couch and you get to watch some freak athletes go play football and hit each other all day.
“I mean, that’s kind of the main thing I feel like is beneficial to fans and is beneficial to us (players).”
He added: “So I think getting all the best players in the world together more often is just going to create a more and more competitive nature and which I guess would result in a better product.”
