Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about LIV Golf’s future and discusses former players returning to the PGA Tour in a recent podcast.
Northern Irish star Rory McIlroy voiced doubts about the long-term prospects of the LIV Golf League during a 60-minute episode of the \”Stick to Football\” podcast series by the English channel The Overlap. Financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), McIlroy discussed his stance on LIV Golf and why he does not feel personally connected to the league, while also addressing the possibility of former PGA Tour players returning.
The five-time major champion and a vocal critic since LIV Golf’s 2022 inception suggested the PIF might consider shutting down the league if it fails to turn a profit. McIlroy said, \”I don’t know, but if LIV can’t engage viewers and they’ve invested so much money with no payoff, I don’t know how long they can sustain it.\”
Though LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced in late October 2025 that the league had generated approximately half a billion euros in sponsorships over the past ten months, it remains unclear when profitability might be achieved. The \”Money in Sport\” newsletter forecasted in May 2025 that PIF’s investments could rise to 5 billion USD by the end of the year. Additionally, it was revealed that the British branch experienced a total loss of 1.1 billion USD between launch and the end of 2024, including 450 million USD in 2024 alone.
McIlroy: \”I Dislike What LIV Golf Has Done to Our Sport\”
\”I dislike what LIV Golf has done to our sport because it has caused such a massive divide. Last time on this 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 me,\” McIlroy said, adding, \”If you are offered twice the money for the same work, it’s hard to say no.\”
He believes LIV Golf hasn’t yet won over fans and viewers sustainably but acknowledged there are some positive aspects. Calling himself a \”traditionalist,\” McIlroy suggested this limits his perspective. Despite this, he noted, \”They came in saying ‘We will be different, we will be this, we will be that.’ They even extended from 54 to 72 holes to gain world ranking points, which is just doing what everyone else does now.\” He asked, \”So what is really different — apart from the money?\”