Rory McIlroy has stated that he would support the return of players who defected to LIV Golf, believing their presence would ultimately benefit the PGA Tour. The six-time major champion was one of LIV’s harshest critics when the breakaway series launched in 2022, but he now acknowledges that the threat LIV posed to traditional golf structures has significantly diminished.
Speaking to Bloomberg from New Delhi ahead of the DP World India Championship, McIlroy suggested that while LIV had a partially sound concept, the execution was flawed. He argued that the vast capital provided by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund—which recently withdrew its backing—was not utilized strategically. Instead of partnering with established governing bodies, McIlroy felt the money was primarily used to further enrich already high-earning professionals.
“I think a rising tide lifts all boats. And I think having some of these players back is beneficial for the business of the tours, absolutely,” McIlroy said when asked if he would vote for LIV players to rejoin the tours he competes on.
The news comes amid growing instability for LIV Golf. Despite securing a potential $300 million (£226 million) in financing from BC Partners Credit, the tour faces uncertainty following the decision of two-time major winner Jon Rahm to opt out. Additionally, the DP World Tour announced on Monday that players participating in the 2027 LIV season will be ineligible for membership on the Europe-based circuit.
McIlroy observed that daily reports of LIV players refusing to rejoin for a second iteration of the tour indicate the organization may struggle to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He noted, “It looks like every day that goes by, there’s another player that was on LIV who says that they’re not going to rejoin for LIV 2.0… If they do [survive], it’s certainly not going to be a threat to the traditional order of the game as maybe it once was.”
Reflecting on his initial opposition, McIlroy revealed that both he and Tiger Woods felt they had the most to lose from the fracture, fearing it would damage the sport. He also admitted that the rift caused him to lose touch with several friends from European Ryder Cup teams, as the competing schedules and eligibility restrictions prevented them from maintaining their previous relationships.
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