Rory McIlroy SAVAGES Greg Norman with a very cold insult after winning Canadian Open

PGA Tour players have come out swinging at the rebel LIV Invitational Series with Irish golfer Rory McIlroy leading the charge at the Canadian Open on the weekend.

While the inaugural round of the controversial LIV Invitational Series was being played in London at the Centurion Club, the PGA Tour continued with the final round of the Canadian Open.

It was a tremendous advertisement for why the PGA Tour needs to survive the challenge from the Saudi-backed LIV Tour, with McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Tony Finau displaying extraordinary strokeplay in the battle for the makeup of the final three.

Greg Norman is the controversial ambassador for the rebel LIV series and McIlroy’s win edged him past the former Australian champion’s mark of 20 PGA Tour wins – and the Irishman let him know all about it too.

‘Yeah it’s a day I will remember for a long, long time,’ he said.

‘Twenty-first PGA Tour win, one more than someone else. That gave me a little bit of extra incentive today and I’m happy to get it done.’

Norman looks on during day three of LIV Golf Invitational – London at The Centurion Club

Former US Open and Olympic champion Justin Rose shot an outstanding 60 to claim fourth spot at the St George’s Golf and Country Club outside of Toronto.

It was an emotional finish for Thomas who paid credit to McIlroy for claiming victory while trumpeting the skill and entertainment on display in the first PGA Tour event to run in tandem with a LIV event.

‘What a week. That’s why we play, and that’s why we play on the PGA Tour. Got to battle against one of the best today and got out-duelled, but not without a fight. Congrats to Rory McIlroy on his 21st [winking emoji] win and an amazing finish. Can’t wait for the US Open,’ he tweeted.

McIlroy plays his shot from the 16th tee as Tony Finau of the United States and Justin Thomas of the United States look on during a tense final round of the Canadian Open

The LIV Tour has thrown hundreds of millions at current PGA Tour golfers in a bid to poach them. 

To date, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell have defected along with several players cut from the PGA Tour, like Patrick Reed.

However, to ensure the lure of riches is resisted, the PGA Tour needed to fire a big shot at the weekend, and it did precisely that. 

‘It’s incredible. Playing with Tony and JT today, two of the top players in the world,’ McIlroy said.

‘All of us playing the way we did, I think the worst score in the group was six-under par. This is a day I’ll remember for a long, long time.’

South African golfer Charl Schwartzel claimed AUD$6.7 million for winning both the individual and team competitions in the LIV event.