Like everyone, Rory McIlroy has seen the quotes exiting LIV Golf as players on the rebel tour, which recently lost the backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, work to figure out what the future holds for them and their tour.
Bryson DeChambeau told several media outlets this week, including ESPN AND Sports Illustratedthan him can focus on growing his YouTube channel while playing the tournaments they “love” if LIV folds. DeChambeau Scratch said that it will be up to PGA Tour members to decide if he can rejoin the PGA Tour and what the punishment will be. DeChambeau also noted that the Tour’s current policy governing the creation of social media content by players on tour is another obstacle. Clearly, DeChambeau and his team have spoken with the PGA Tour, but he may not want to return. Thomas Pieters said that if LIV Golf leaves, he will not return to the PGA Tour. Anirban Lahiri said Times of London that he knows at least a “dozen” players who would rather retire than rejoin the PGA Tour.
For McIlroy, all of these quotes are important.
“I think I said early on, maybe I was too judgmental of the guys that went because I was looking at it from my perspective and maybe not from other perspectives,” McIlroy said Friday after his second round at the Truist Championship. “But again, I’m not going to judge anyone who doesn’t want to play on the PGA TOUR.
“But … if you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, this is the place to be. And if you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you.”
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has said that he currently there is no plan to reintegrate LIV players if the league goes out of business after 2026. That’s not something he has to worry about right now with LIV working to secure funding for 2027 and beyond. Since taking over, Rolapp has been clear that he wants to do whatever is best for the PGA Tour. That’s why he created the limited returning member program to welcome Brooks Koepka back from LIV in January, albeit with a stiff financial penalty. But Rolapp also acknowledges that the PGA Tour membership has scars from golf that he doesn’t have, and he’ll have to walk the line between doing what’s best for the business and keeping his membership happy.
McIlroy wants to do what’s best for the PGA Tour’s bottom line as he enters his profitable era. But the reigning Masters champion also knows the process of a potential reunion won’t be quick.
“It’s a question of whether they want to come back. Obviously, we’ve seen the quotes over the last few days,” McIlroy said. “Again, it all depends on what happens with LIV. But if it’s a scenario where they have the opportunity to come back and play traditional tours, you know, I think Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everybody should be open to that. That’s just good business practice.
“But again, I think there’s going to be a lot of bridges to cross to get there.”
McIlroy admits that all this merger talk is largely moot if LIV Golf, which is seeking outside investment, continues into 2027. While DeChambeau’s contract expires after 2026, many players, including Jon Rahm, are under contract with LIV for several more seasons. So if there is a Golf LIV, that’s where most of their golf will be played.
IN future theme of LIVMcIlroy knows the fat lady isn’t singing yet. But with PIF’s announcement that it would withdraw funds, it is certainly warming up. LIV may continue beyond 2026, but it will take a different form than it has existed for the past five years.
And that says it all for the six-time major champion.
“That doesn’t mean LIV is going away. They’re going to go and try to find an alternative investment, whatever that looks like. But when one of the richest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks you’re too expensive for them, that’s saying something,” McIlroy said with a laugh.
