As LIV Golf part ways with Brooks Koepka and negotiates with Bryson DeChambeau for what promises to be golf’s biggest guaranteed contract, Rory McIlroy is questioning the circuit’s future.
In a written story BY Of the Telegraph James Corriganthe Grand Slam winner and world No. 2 said it was great that Koepka would be returning to the PGA Tour after the five-time major winner agreed to a number of punitive terms as a result of his departure from the tour for LIV in 2022 – “this puts Brooks back where he belongs,” McIlroy said. But McIlroy also wondered about LIV’s direction as DeChambeau, another of the league’s stars, is in talks with renew a contract which expires at the end of the year.
As LIV begins its fifth season, it faces a situation where DeChambeau has considerable leverage: He could demand a deal somewhere in the nine-figure range as a result of Koepka’s departure; he may also leave, either to the PGA Tour or perhaps to the creation of YouTube, a forum where he has amassed a large following. At Corrigan’s Telegraph In the story, McIlroy said that if DeChambeau were to join LIV, however, the league would be out hundreds of millions of dollars just to maintain its current status.
“It’s not like they made any big signings this year, did they? McIlroy said of Corrigan’s story. “They haven’t signed anybody that moves the needle and I don’t think they will. I mean, they could re-sign Bryson for hundreds of millions of dollars, but even if they do, that doesn’t change their product, does it? They will just pay for the same thing.
“And they’ve lost Brooks, so they’re going to pay all this money and . . .”
McIlroy’s comments, made after first-round play at the PD World Tour’s Dubai Invitational, were his first since Koepka’s situation reached some resolution on Monday, when the PGA Tour announced he would be allowed back on the circuit through what it calls its “Returning Member Program.” Under the policy, Koepka and three current LIV players – DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith – will be allowed to return to the PGA Tour through their major championship wins over the past four years, but will have to agree to a number of conditions, including making a $5 million charitable donation and not receiving access to the Tour2 bonus program for five years.
In making that announcement, the Tour said Koepka had agreed to those terms, while the others face a Feb. 2 deadline to decide. Or have they already? On Tuesday, DeChambeau, Rahm and Smith were part of a preseason LIV press conference, and each had these answers to a moderator’s question referring to Koepka and the Returning Member Program.
Said DeChambeau: “Yeah, I mean, look, I’m signed through 2026, so I’m excited about this year.”
Rahm said: “Yeah, I’m not planning on going anywhere. Very similar answer to what Bryson gave. I wish Brooks the best. As for me, I’m focused on the league and my team this year, and hopefully we can repeat as champions.”
And Smith: “I mean, I really don’t have any thoughts. I haven’t had a lot of time to think about it. But I know I’m here to stay. I’m here to support LIV. I’m the captain of a great team and a great group of people. I’m happy where I’m at. I’m proud of where I’m at. I think we do a lot of great things in Australia, looking forward to continuing to grow.”
Editor’s Note: To read Corrigan’s full story, please click here. It also features McIlroy’s thoughts on the PGA Tour’s negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the direction of the PGA Tour.
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