McIlroy says he would back LIV players’ return as he questions breakaway circuit’s future
Rory McIlroy said in New Delhi, ahead of the DP World India Championship, that he would vote to allow LIV Golf players back onto the PGA Tour and that he no longer views the breakaway circuit as a threat to traditional tours; the comments were published on 13 October 2026. He made the remarks while speaking to Bloomberg before playing in the DP World India Championship.
McIlroy, who has been one of LIV’s most vocal critics since its 2022 launch, cited ongoing uncertainty around the circuit despite reports of a possible $300m (£226m) financing from BC Partners Credit and the recent decision by two-time major winner Jon Rahm to opt out of the tour. He reminded listeners that LIV was originally bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund before it withdrew its backing this year.
On LIV’s original concept and spending, McIlroy said: "LIV had probably half of a good idea that was executed pretty poorly," and added, "They had a lot of capital but I think a lot of that capital was wasted in some ways. I think they could have used that money a lot more strategically and they could have partnered with some of the governing bodies of the game. "They certainly could have done better things with it, instead of just enriching tour pros who were already making a lot of money." These remarks followed reports of potential new financing for LIV and departures such as Rahm's.
When asked whether he would vote to allow former LIV players to rejoin the tours he competes on, the six-time major winner replied: "Yes, I would." He added: "I think a rising tide lifts all boats. And I think having some of these players back is beneficial for the business of the tours, absolutely."
McIlroy also addressed the legal and organisational challenges facing LIV, saying: "It looks like every day that goes by, there's another player that was on LIV who says that they're not going to rejoin for LIV 2.0. "So I think it is going to be very difficult for them to get out of this Chapter 11 bankruptcy and go forward. "If they do, it's certainly not going to be a threat to the traditional order of the game as maybe it once was." His comments came as the DP World Tour announced that players who sign up to LIV's 2027 season will not be permitted to be members of the Europe-based circuit.
On his history of opposing LIV, McIlroy said he and 15-time major winner Tiger Woods "were probably the two that had the most to lose" and that they felt LIV "wasn't good for the game and it was going to fracture the game." He also referenced the impact on TGL (Tomorrow's Golf League), saying: "we were about to launch TGL (Tomorrow's Golf League) and we thought LIV could have taken something away from TGL, which it did because some players went to LIV and you had to be a PGA Tour member to play in TGL. "Everyone has different interests in the game. You're trying to protect your interests but also the interests of the game as a whole."
McIlroy acknowledged personal fallout from the split in men’s professional golf, saying: "Yes, certainly people I played with on European Ryder Cup teams that I'm not as close with anymore. "We had a difference of opinion on the future of golf but I don't think that's something to lose friends over, but we also just didn't see each other anymore. "They didn't play the same tournaments, they weren't eligible for the Ryder Cup, they weren't qualifying for the major championships. "When you don't live in the same places as these people, you lose touch."
McIlroy's stance and the DP World Tour's membership ruling add context to LIV's immediate prospects; he was speaking in New Delhi before playing in the DP World India Championship, the event he was due to compete in next.