Rory McIlroy sends blunt message to LIV golfers that players not wanting to return to PGA Tour ‘says something about you’ | golf news

Amid uncertainty over the future of LIV golf, Rory McIlroy questioned why players would not want to return to the PGA Tour, bluntly saying “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 it would end its funding of LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season, with the breakaway league now looking for alternative long-term investments to secure its future.

After that he spoke Friday’s tryst gets into contention at the championship 67 in the second round, McIlroy was asked for his take on the LIV situation and a possible path for players to return to the established tour.

“It’s a question if they want to come back,” McIlroy said.

“Obviously we’ve seen quotes over the last few days. And, you know, some people seem like, if… Again, it all depends on what happens with LIV.

“If it’s a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tour, I think (PGA Tour CEO) Brian Rolap said anything that makes the tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everybody should be open to that.

“It’s just good business practice.

“But again, I think there’s a lot of bridges to cross to get there, because, you know, obviously the guys that are there are under contract and if they’re able to continue that and get a schedule together next year, it looks like those guys are still going to be playing most of their golf at LIV, in whatever form it is.”

McIlroy, originally a major critic of the LIV breakaway before softening his stance in 2022, added: “I was probably too judgmental of the people who went because I was looking at it from my perspective and maybe not from another perspective.

“I’m not going to judge anybody for not wanting to play on the PGA Tour.

“I don’t know if that means they go on to play the DP World Tour, maybe; if that’s one way, it’s going to make the DP World Tour stronger, and I’ll be happy about it because at the end of the day it’s my home tour.

“But if you want to be the most competitive golfer, this is the place to be. And if you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you.”

McIlroy also took aim at LIV’s survival hopes under different support.

“It was never meant to be for me and look, that doesn’t mean LIV is going away,” he added.

“They will go and try to find alternative investments, whatever that looks like.

“But when one of the richest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks you’re too expensive for them, that says something.”

‘It’s really if the players want me back’ – what leading LIV golfers say about the future?

Sky Sports Understands that several LIV players have discussed the possibility of both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour being reinstated.

Speaking earlier this week, Bryson DeChambeau – one of LIV’s biggest names – said he would focus on his YouTube channel if LIV Golf falls short of a possible return to the PGA Tour.

“I think, from my perspective, I want to triple my YouTube channel, maybe more,” DeChambeau, who has 2.69 million subscribers on the streaming platform, told ESPN.

“I would love to. I want to do a bunch of dubbing in different languages, which gives the world more reasons to watch YouTube. And then I want to play tournaments that want me.”

In the next comment, DeChambeau talked about a possible return to the PGA Tour: “Whether the membership wants me back and whether they want me back really. That’s what it’s all about.

“I don’t even think like Brian Rolap or one of the top executives, I understand if the players want me back and if they don’t.”

Jon Rahm, whose LIV contract runs beyond this season, said of the future of the series: “As for the future of the league, I think it’s definitely a question for the businessmen. We want to be here. It’s been a lot of fun. I want to continue competing. I want to share some time with them.

“But only time will tell. Scott (O’Neill, LIV’s CEO) and his team will have a lot of hard work to do, but obviously, they are experienced in the area, and that’s why they were chosen to take on this role.”

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