Rory McIlroy turns down £1.9m appearance fee at Saudi Arabia event over ‘morality’… days after AJ vs Ruiz controversy

CRITICISM of Saudi Arabia featured in Rory McIlroy's thoughts when turning down a multi-million pound appearance in the country.

Next month's Saudi International reportedly offered the World No2 a £1.9million fee for competing at the European Tour tournament.

Suffering from a lack of desire to travel to the Middle East, McIlroy said on Monday night that the event was "not something that would excite me".

However he added that there were "morality" concerns amid criticism of the Saudi regime's human rights record and concerns of sportwashing - whereby major competitions are held purely to improve the country's shaky reputation.

McIlroy told the Golf Channel: "One hundred per cent, there's a morality to it as well."

Anthony Joshua staged his world title rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr in Riyadh on the weekend and McIlroy confessed to having "no problem" with the contest.

The golfer, 30, now plans to remain Stateside and play for spectators more committed to the sport.

He continued: "I’m no different. I had no problem watching the world heavyweight title fight there this weekend. I had no problem watching that and cheering on AJ, and all that sort of stuff.

I’d much rather play in front of big golf fans and play in a tournament that really excites me.

Rory McIlroy

"You can say that about so many countries, not just Saudi Arabia. You can say that about a lot of countries that we play in, that there’s a reason not to go.

"For me, I just don’t want to go. I don’t want to travel that far. I think the atmosphere looks better at the events on the West Coast. I’d much rather play in front of big golf fans and play in a tournament that really excites me."

Next year will also see McIlroy venture into the Olympics, representing Ireland having refused to play in the sport's return to the prestigious competition in Rio De Janeiro.

Speaking on that decision, the Belfast-born ace said: "I had to ask questions I had never asked of myself before.

"It weighed heavily on me and then I started to resent the Olympics for what it put upon me.

"But I realised I can't please everyone. I just had to do what was right for me."