Rory McIlroy offered a ruthless retort to the prospect of LIV Golf’s stars returning to the PGA Tour after four years of tension.
LIV has been in freefall since Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund pulled the plug on its financial backing in April, leaving the breakaway tour scrambling for new investors.
The scrutiny surrounding the circuit’s fate has once again raised the question of a return to the PGA Tour for the players who jumped ship for lucrative multi-million-dollar deals.
However, McIlroy, one of the most outspoken critics of LIV, didn’t appear prepared to offer the warmest of welcomes when asked about the prospect of a reunion.
While McIlroy could see unification at some point, he paused when asked Wednesday about the value they would bring to the PGA Tour.
‘I mean, I’d argue have they brought value to LIV?’ McIlroy said at the BMW Championship.
Rory McIlroy offered a ruthless retort to the prospect of LIV Golf’s stars returning
LIV players’ futures are in doubt as the fate of the breakaway circuit faces scrutiny
Brooks Koepka was the first player to return to the PGA Tour this year, with stipulations that he could not play $20 million signature events unless he earned his way, paid $5 million to charity and had no access to equity. The tour put the penalty value at $50 million and upward.
The tour then offered the same deal – and two weeks to decide on it – to Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, all major champions dating back to the launch of LIV in 2022.
Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, offered a more open stance, welcoming the idea of the best players in the world playing against each other once again.
‘When we talk about the best players, LIV has a few players that are really good,’ Scheffler said. ‘I think the depth that we have on our tour is unmatched, but I think when you look at the higher levels of LIV Golf there’s definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the tour, and guys that I love competing against as well.
‘So I think going forward there obviously has to be, I think, some sort of penalties.’
What those penalties are he said would be up to PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp.
Scottie Scheffler was more open towards the best players in the world playing together
McIlroy has been the biggest critic of LIV from the start. He has toned down his rhetoric over the years, though he suggested in February 2025 that players ‘have to get over it’ when it comes to finding a way to bring defectors back.
He sounded more reluctant Wednesday, noting that top players had their chances to return at the start of the year and whatever offer likely would not be as good as it was for Koepka.
LIV Golf is ending its season one week earlier than planned, announcing Monday it will not hold the team championship in Michigan next week and instead crown the team champion this week 20 miles north of Indianapolis.
The 12 events this year – New Orleans was previously postponed – is the smallest schedule for LIV since it was launched with massive Saudi Arabia funding in 2022 and featured eight tournaments.
