Three of those golfers — Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones — applied for a restraining order so they could play in this week’s first playoff event, the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
“From my perspective, common sense prevailed and I thought it was the right decision,” McIlroy told reporters. “It allows us to focus on the important things, which is golf. We can all move forward and not have these sideshows over the next few weeks, which is nice.
“I don’t feel like my job is to stand up here and advocate for the PGA Tour or be a spokesperson, it’s just the role I’m in.
“I feel like then when I put myself on the ropes I feel like no one can reach me and that’s really nice. It made the golf more enjoyable – if anything it probably helped my golf.”
According to the PGA Tour, every player who has joined LIV Golf has been barred from tournament play since early June.
In addition to the three players who were denied the restraining order, the golfers who are part of the antitrust lawsuit are Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortiz, Ian Poulter, Pat Perez, Jason Kokrak and Peter Uihlein.
LIV Golf released a brief statement on Tuesday expressing disappointment with the judge’s decision. “Nobody benefits from banning golfers from playing,” officials said.
The series is backed by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia – a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia – and has pledged to award a total of $250 million in prize money.
The PGA Tour’s FedEx St. Jude Championship begins Thursday, while LIV Golf’s next three-day event is scheduled to begin September 2 in Boston.
CNN’s Jill Martin contributed to the coverage.