Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about LIV Golf’s future and discusses former players potentially returning to the PGA Tour.
In a more than 60-minute episode of the \”Stick to Football\” podcast series on the English channel ‘The Overlap‘ released on Friday, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy voiced doubts about the long-term future of the LIV Golf League, which is financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy discussed his fundamental stance towards LIV Golf and explained why he has no personal connection to the league. He also touched on 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 ending the newly founded league entirely if it does not turn a profit long-term. McIlroy said, \”I don’t know, but if LIV can’t excite the fans and they have invested so much money into this project without returns, I don’t know how much longer they can sustain it.\”
Although LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced at the end of October 2025 that the league had raised around half a billion euros in sponsorship over the past ten months, it remains unclear when profits might begin. The newsletter \”Money in Sport\” forecasted in May 2025 that PIF’s investments would reach five billion US dollars by the end of the year. In the following October, it was revealed that the league’s UK branch had recorded a total loss of 1.1 billion US dollars between its launch and the end of 2024, including 450 million US dollars in 2024 alone.
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 divide. In the last podcast, I said I might have been too quick to judge the guys who went there, as not everyone is in the same position as I am,\” McIlroy said, adding, \”When you’re offered double the money for the same work, it’s hard to say no.\”
He also believes LIV Golf has yet to find lasting resonance among fans and viewers but acknowledged the league has some positive aspects. Calling himself a \”traditionalist,\” McIlroy suggested this might limit his perspective. Nevertheless, he said: \”They came in saying, ‘We will be different, we will be this, we will be that.’ Even changing from 54 to 72 holes to earn world ranking points is basically doing what everyone else does. So, what’s really different—except the money