LIV Golf: Rory McIlroy says players returning to PGA Tour would be ‘good business’
Rory McIlroy says it would be “good business” for the PGA Tour to bring back LIV Golf defectors amid doubts over the future of the breakaway series.
In April, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it would withdraw billions of dollars in support at the end of the year.
In response, LIV announced a “strategic evolution”, including a newly established independent board, while bidding to find new financial investors.
But Masters champion McIlroy, who has long been a harsh critic of the series, questioned the series’ ability to find new support, saying: “When one of the richest sovereign funds in the world thinks you’re too expensive for them, that kind of means something.”
Earlier this week, Bryson DeChambeau said he would focus on growing his YouTube channel and would only “play in tournaments that want me” if LIV doesn’t survive.
“This is a question if [players] I want to get back,” McIlroy said after carding a four-under 67 in the second round to keep himself in contention at the Truist Championship.
“Obviously we’ve seen these quotes over the last few days. And, you know, it all seems to depend on what happens with LIV.
“But if that’s a scenario where they have the option of coming back and playing traditional tours, I guess [PGA Tour chief executive] Brian Rolapp has said everything that makes this Tour stronger, makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that.
“It’s just good business practice.”
The six-time major winner added: “I think everyone knows my views on LIV and where it stands in the game of golf, I don’t need to restate any of that.
“That never happened for me, and look, that doesn’t mean LIV is going to go away. They’re going to go away and try to find alternative investment no matter what.”
