Rory McIlroy is open to welcoming LIV Golf players back to the PGA Tour, but he fully understands that many have no desire to return—and that doesn’t bother him.
Having seen the recent comments from LIV players about their future, McIlroy offered his perspective after the second round of the Truist Championship on Friday.
Bryson DeChambeau recently told multiple outlets that he might shift focus to expanding his YouTube channel and only compete in events that “want him” if LIV folds. He also suggested it would be up to PGA Tour members to decide if he could rejoin and what penalties he would face. Thomas Pieters stated he wouldn’t go back to the PGA Tour if LIV disappeared, while Anirban Lahiri claimed he knows at least a “dozen” players who would rather retire than return.
McIlroy acknowledged that his earlier stance on defectors may have been too harsh, but he stands by his core belief.
“I think I’ve said from the start, I was probably too judgmental with the guys who went because I was seeing it from my point of view and not theirs,” McIlroy said. “But again, I’m not going to judge anyone for not wanting to play on the PGA Tour. However, 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.”
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has stated he currently has no plan to reintegrate LIV players should the league cease operations after 2026. He has focused on what’s best for the Tour, as shown by the limited Returning Members Program that allowed Brooks Koepka to return with a financial penalty. Rolapp acknowledges the membership carries scars from golf’s rift, and he must balance business interests with player satisfaction.
McIlroy wants what’s best for the Tour’s bottom line as it moves into its for-profit era, but he also recognizes reunification won’t happen overnight.
“It’s a question if they do want to come back. Obviously, we’ve seen the quotes over the last few days,” McIlroy said. “It all depends on what happens to LIV. But if they have the option to return and play on the traditional tours, Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this tour or the DP World Tour stronger should be considered. That’s just good business. But there are a lot of bridges to cross to get there.”
McIlroy noted that all the talk of unification is largely moot if LIV Golf secures outside funding and continues in 2027. While DeChambeau’s contract ends after 2026, many players, including Jon Rahm, are tied to LIV for several more seasons. So, if LIV persists, that’s where most of their golf will be played.
On LIV’s future, McIlroy admitted the fat lady isn’t singing yet, but with the PIF announcing it would withdraw funding, she’s certainly warming up. LIV may continue beyond 2026, but it will take a different form.
