Rory McIlroy, the guy who’s been the loudest voice against LIV Golf since day one, just threw down a shocker: he’d actually welcome former LIV members back to the PGA Tour in 2027. This isn’t some hypothetical, either. This comes as LIV’s whole campaign utterly crashed and burned, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund reportedly yanking over $5 billion in funding and the league filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy just last month. On top of that, big names like Jon Rahm have already bounced, looking for a way back to legitimate golf.
McIlroy: “Half a Good Idea” That Cost Billions
McIlroy, speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum while playing the DP World Tour’s India Championship, didn’t mince words. When asked directly if he’d open the door for LIV players who want out of “LIV 2.0,” he flat out said, “Yes, I would.” He’s looking at the bigger picture, too, explaining, “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.”
But don’t get it twisted, he knows it’s not a simple walk back in the park. Both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour are “membership organizations.” That means leadership has to go to the members and ask, “OK, what would you like to see?” He gets it: “some members that stayed loyal would feel hard done by if these guys can just walk straight back in.” But on the flip side, having those star players back “is very good for business” and “can drive revenues up.” It’s a tough “balance there” they gotta figure out.
McIlroy also laid into LIV’s whole venture, saying, “LIV had probably like half of a good idea that was executed pretty poorly.” He called out how “a lot of that capital was wasted in some ways.” He firmly believes they “could’ve used that money a lot more strategically” and “could’ve partnered with some of the governing bodies of the game” instead of “just enriching Tour pros that were already making a lot of money.” Talk about a brutal assessment of how $5 billion went up in smoke.
The Exodus Is Real, But Is There a Way Back?
LIV Golf has been a total mess, scrambling to find a path forward after what McIlroy called a “tumultuous campaign” this past year. After the PIF pulled its massive $5 billion investment, the league had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Now, BC Partners has pledged over $300 million to “LIV 2.0,” but get this, it’s only happening if certain conditions are met. Sounds shaky, right?
Players are clearly seeing the writing on the wall. Jon Rahm “is out,” and he’s easily the “biggest name” to officially split. He’s reportedly planning to play on the DP World Tour next season to get his PGA Tour card back. Patrick Reed dipped out in January, and he’s been grinding on the DP World Tour all season, nearly earning his PGA Tour card back already. And Sergio Garcia? He’s been released from his contract, too. The exodus is in full swing.
The DP World Tour Already Slammed the Door Shut
Here’s where McIlroy’s olive branch hits a brick wall. On Monday, the DP World Tour confirmed they will *not* grant conditional membership to golfers who are competing on LIV Golf in 2027. That’s a massive change from the past few seasons, when LIV guys could actually keep some conditional status on the European league. Now, if you’re a European golfer, you have to be in “good standing” with the DP World Tour if you want any shot at playing. No backdoor entries.
So, while Rory’s open to the idea, the Tours themselves have a major hurdle to clear, and the DP World Tour already made their stance crystal clear on conditional memberships. Rahm might have a pathway to redemption, but for the other LIV defectors, the road back to the top tours just got a lot longer and more complicated. The future of pro golf just got a lot more interesting, that’s for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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