Golfers that turned down huge paychecks from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour have been ‘humiliated and hung out to dry’, according to Ciara Kelly.

Yesterday’s shock announcement that the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and LIV Golf are merging threw the sport into chaos – with most reports suggesting players were not consulted before the announcement.

The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Circuit launched last year offering massive deals to players who were willing to up sticks and leave the traditional tours.

Many took the money – with the likes of Brooks Koepka, Duston Johnson and Phil Mickelson all signing deals in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Tiger Woods at the Masters, 14-07-2022. Image: PA Images / Alamy

Others, such as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods came out strongly in defence of the traditional tours – highlighting Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record and turning down massive contracts.

McIllory reportedly turned down €400m contract from the Saudi breakaway, with some reports suggesting Woods turned down double that figure.

Up until yesterday’s shock announcement, many pundits believed the battle was only going one way – with the PGA winning battles in court, LIV Golf posting abysmal ratings and widespread whispers of players looking for ways to return to the PGA.

Phil Mickelson acknowledges a fan after playing his shot from the tenth tee during Round 4 of the PGA Championship Tournament, 19/05/2019.Image: John Jones/Icon SMI

Newstalk Breakfast presenter Ciara Kelly said the apparent overnight change of fortunes comes down to one thing.

“Clearly money has won,” she said.

“It’s like a coup. Saudi has literally bought golf and they have managed to do that because they had so much money to throw at it – that’s the first thing.

“But also, for those golfers who did try and take a principled stand and say, ‘no money is worth it to make us play on the Saudi Arabian tour’ – they have been largely hung out to dry, they have been humiliated and they certainly have been financially disadvantaged.”

Shane Coleman in the Newstalk Studio. Image: Newstalk

Fellow presenter Shane Coleman said the sad truth is that Rory McIlroy has lost and Phil Mickelson has won.

“The message from this is loud and clear – don’t bother standing up for principals in sport,” he said.

“Do what Karim Benzema has done and go to Saudi Arabia. Do what Newcastle has done and sell your club to Saudi Arabia.

“That is the message that is going out loud and clear. Money talks, money walks.”

Ciara said McIlroy should be proud that he “stood up for what was right”, even as many of his colleagues took the money.

“He has lost the battle, but I think he is the better person for it,” she said.

McIlroy will today face the media for the first time since the announcement as he takes questions ahead of the Canadian Open.