Rory McIlroy questioned why players don’t want to return to the PGA Tour with the future of LIV Golf uncertain, saying bluntly: “If you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you.”
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirmed last month that its funding for LIV Golf will end at the end of the 2026 season, and the breakaway league is now seeking alternative long-term investments to secure its future.
After rocketing into contention with a second-round 67 at the Tourist Championship on Friday, McIlroy was asked for his thoughts on the LIV situation and potential paths for players to return to the established tour.
“It’s a question of whether they want to come back,” McIlroy said.
“Obviously, we’ve seen what’s been said over the last few days, and, you know, some people…again, it all depends on what happens with LIV.
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Rory McIlroy hits a 393-yard drive after bouncing along the cart path in the second round of the Tourist Championship
“If they have the option to go back and play on a traditional tour, I think (PGA Tour CEO) Brian Rolup has said anything that makes this tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger. I think everyone should embrace that.”
“It’s just good business practice.
“But again, I think we have to cross a lot of bridges to get there, because, you know, obviously the players over there are under contract and if they can continue to do that and schedule together next year, it looks like they’re still going to play the majority of their golf at LIV in some form or another.”
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Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir explains what lies ahead for LIV golfers after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirms funding will end at the end of the 2026 season
McIlroy, who was originally a big critic of LIV’s departure in 2022 but has since softened his stance, added: “I was probably too judgmental with the players who left because maybe I was looking at it from my perspective and not from other perspectives.”
“I’m not criticizing anyone who doesn’t want to play on the PGA Tour.
“I don’t know, but maybe that means they’ll be on the DP World Tour. If that’s the way to go, the DP World Tour will be stronger and I’m happy about that because it’s my home 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.”
Rory McIlroy agrees that if LIV players’ return makes existing tours stronger, ‘everyone should embrace it’
McIlroy also took aim at LIV’s hopes of surviving with other support.
“It was never like that for me, and look, that doesn’t mean LIV is going to go away,” he added.
“They are going to go look for alternative investments, whatever that may be.
“But if one of the world’s richest sovereign wealth funds thinks your investment is too expensive for them, that’s saying something.”
“It’s really about whether the players want me back” – What does LIV’s top golfer say about the future?
Sky Sports understands that several LIV players have approached both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour about a possible return.
Bryson DeChambeau, one of LIV’s biggest players, said in a speech earlier this week that he would focus on his YouTube channel if LIV Golf fails in a potential return to the PGA Tour.
“From my perspective, I want to grow my YouTube channel three times, maybe even more,” DeChambeau, who has 2.69 million subscribers on the streaming platform, told ESPN.
“I’d love to do that. I’d love to do a lot of dubbing in different languages and give the world more reasons to watch YouTube. And I’d love to play in tournaments that need me.”
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Jon Rahm explains agreement reached with DP World Tour regarding return from LIV Golf
In subsequent comments, DeChambeau spoke about the possibility of returning to the PGA Tour:
“I don’t even think it’s someone like Brian Rolup or the CEO. I understand if the players want me back and if they don’t, I understand that.”
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Jon Rahm, whose contract with LIV extends beyond this season, had this to say about the future of the series: “I think it’s obviously a question for the business people when you think about the future of the league. We want to be here. We had a lot of fun. We want to continue to compete. We want to continue to share time with these guys.”
“But only time will tell. Scott (O’Neill, CEO of LIV) and his team have a lot of work to do, but clearly they have experience in this area, which is why they were chosen for this role.”
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