Rory McIlroy was damning in his verdict of LIV Golf‘s chances of ever recovering from being dumped by Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). The sovereign wealth fund announced their decision to no longer financially back the league beyond the end of this season.
While LIV chief executive, Scott O’Neill, stated his confidence that the league still maintains a future, the Northern Irish golfer expressed his doubts given their multi-billion pound loss in the four years of existence.
Speaking at the Truist Championship on Friday, the 36-year-old said: “They’re going to go and try and find alternative investment, whatever that may look like. But when one of the wealthiest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks that you’re too expensive for them, that sort of says something.”
The six-time major champion has been a long-time sceptic of the rival tour which has been a significant talking point in the last few years of his career. From commenting on reported offers from LIV to losing friendships over the defection, the golfer has experienced his fair share of controversy involving the tour.
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Alongside Tiger Woods, McIlroy was the biggest golf star to rebuff the temptation of the Saudi riches to remain on the PGA Tour. Steadfast in his position, the reigning Masters champion publicly rubbished reports that he was offered $850million (£623m) and an equity stake in LIV.
Speaking in 2024, McIlroy told the Golf Channel: “I honestly don’t know how these things get started. I’ve never been offered a number from LIV, and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.
View 4 ImagesRory McIlroy has remained steadfast in his views of LIV Golf(Image: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
“It doesn’t mean that I judge people who have went and played over there. I think one of the things that I have realised over the past two years is that people can make their own decisions for whatever they think is best for themselves, and who are we to judge them for that? But personally, for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour, and it’s never been any different.”
Such was McIlroy’s staunch initial opposition to LIV that Sergio Garcia’s decision to defect to LIV caused a fracture in their relationship. The pair, who were team-mates at five Ryder Cup tournaments, ended up resolving their differences at the US Open in 2023.
Speaking after the PGA Tour and DP World Tour announced their now-defunct merger with PIF, the former Masters champion revealed his pleasure in being able to call McIlroy a friend again. The Spaniard said: “I wish this would have happened a year and a half ago. To give you an example – it wasn’t because of the merger, but the US Open was a great event for me.
“I feel like I played well, but more than anything because I gained a friend back, a friend that I kind of felt like I lost in the last year or so. We talked and we had a great conversation, and I feel like I have that friend back and that to me means a lot.”
View 4 ImagesMcIlroy and Sergio Garcia have since patched up their relationship (Image: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Garcia admitted he’d wanted to patch up his relationship with the 36-year-old but remained hesitant. He explained: “I had been thinking about [rekindling the friendship] for a while but I wasn’t totally sure. But then I saw that reaction from him and it kind of gave me the incentive to get closer and we had a great chat.
“I think that at the end of the day, the important thing is that we got together and talked; we were two friends that wanted to get back to that spot. Like I said, no doubt it was the saddest part of all of this, these friendships turning sour.”
Amid the uncertainty of LIV’s future, Bryson DeChambeau was bullish in his future plans, insisting he will likely focus on his YouTube channel and prioritise playing the four majors should the golf league fold.
View 4 ImagesBryson DeChambeau revealed he will focus on his YouTube channel should LIV fold(Image: Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
McIlroy insisted that he was “too judgmental” to those who joined the Saudi circuit but questioned the competitiveness for players not wanting to play on the PGA Tour.
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In what could be construed as an indirect shot at the two-time major winner, the world No. 2 stated: “I was probably too judgemental with the guys that went because I was seeing it from my point of view.
“And again, I’m not going to judge anyone for not wanting 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.”
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