Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about the future of LIV Golf and discusses returning players to the PGA Tour in a podcast.
In a podcast episode over 60 minutes long from the series ‘Stick to Football’ on the English channel ‘The Overlap’, released last Friday, Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy voiced skepticism about the long-term future of the LIV Golf League, which is funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy discussed his fundamental stance on LIV Golf and explained why he has no personal connection to the league. He also addressed the possibility of former PGA Tour players making a comeback.
The five-time major champion and one of LIV Golf’s most vocal critics since its inception in 2022 speculated that the PIF might consider shutting down the newly formed league if it does not turn a profit in the long run. McIlroy stated, ‘I don’t know, but if LIV fails to excite the fans, and they’ve invested so much money into this project without it paying off, 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 secured around half a billion euros in sponsorships over the past ten months, it remains unclear when the league might become profitable. The newsletter ‘Money in Sport’ projected as early as May 2025 that the PIF’s investments would rise to five billion US dollars by the end of 2025. Additionally, it was reported in October 2025 that the league’s UK branch recorded a total loss of 1.1 billion US dollars between its start and the end of 2024, including 450 million US dollars 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 a massive split. I said in this podcast last time that I might have been a bit 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 kind of hard to say no.’
He believes LIV Golf has so far failed to gain lasting resonance with fans and viewers but acknowledged that the league includes some positive elements. Labeling himself a ‘traditionalist’, McIlroy suggested this mindset might limit his perspective. Nonetheless, he remarked, ‘They came in saying, ‘We will be different, we will be this, we will be that.’ Even the fact that they changed from 54 to 72 holes to gain world ranking points is like just doing what everyone else does.’ He continued, ‘So what is actually different – apart from 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