Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about LIV Golf’s future and discusses possible returns to the PGA Tour in a recent podcast.
In a more than 60-minute episode of the podcast series ‘Stick to Football’ on the English channel ‘The Overlap’ released on Friday, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy expressed doubts about the long-term future of the LIV Golf League, which is funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy spoke about his general stance on LIV Golf and explained why he has no personal connection to this league. He also discussed the possibility of former PGA Tour players returning.
The five-time major champion and one of LIV Golf’s sharpest critics since its inception in 2022 speculated that the PIF might consider shutting down the newly established league if the project does not yield profits in the long term. McIlroy said, ‘I don’t know, but if LIV can’t attract viewers, and they’ve invested so much money into this project without returns, I don’t know how long they can sustain it.’
Although LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced at the end of October 2025 that the league had raised approximately half a billion euros in sponsorship funds over the past ten months, it remains unclear when profits might be realized. The newsletter ‘Money in Sport’ predicted in May 2025 that investments from the Saudi PIF would reach five billion US dollars by the end of 2025. Furthermore, it was revealed in the following October that LIV Golf’s UK branch had already recorded a total loss of 1.1 billion US dollars from its start through the end of 2024, with 450 million US dollars alone in 2024.
McIlroy: ‘I Don’t Like What LIV Golf Has Done to Our Sport’
‘I don’t like what LIV Golf has done to our sport because it has caused a massive division. I said last time on this podcast that I may have been too quick to judge the guys who went there, because not everyone is in the same situation as me,’ McIlroy said, adding, ‘When you’re offered twice the money for the same work, it’s kind of hard to say no.’
At the same time, McIlroy believes LIV Golf has yet to gain lasting appeal among fans and viewers, though he acknowledged the league contains some positive elements. Calling himself a ‘traditionalist,’ he suspected this influences his mindset. He continued, ‘They came in and said, \”We will be different, we’ll be this, we’ll be that.\” Even the fact they switched from 54 to 72 holes to gain world ranking points is just doing what everyone else does.’ And he added, ‘So, what is really different—other than the money?’
Rory McIlroy on LIV Golf Returnees and the 2025 Ryder Cup
Regarding the possible return of former LIV players to the PGA Tour—as recently seen with Brooks Koep