Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about the future of LIV Golf and discusses former players returning to the PGA Tour in a recent podcast.
In a podcast episode lasting over 60 minutes from the series ‘Stick to Football’ on the English channel ‘The Overlap‘, released last Friday, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy voiced concerns about the long-term future of the LIV Golf League, funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy discussed his general stance on LIV Golf and explained why he feels no personal connection to the league. He also touched on the possibility of former PGA Tour players returning.
The five-time major winner and one of LIV Golf’s fiercest critics since its 2022 inception speculated that PIF might consider shutting down the league entirely if it fails to turn a profit in the long run. McIlroy said, ‘I don’t know, but if LIV fails to excite fans and they’ve invested so much money without returns, I don’t know how long they can sustain it.’
Although LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced in late October 2025 that the league had secured around half a billion euros in sponsorship over the past ten months, the timeline for profitability remains unclear. The newsletter ‘Money in Sport’ forecasted in May 2025 that PIF investments could reach five billion USD by the end of 2025. Subsequently, it was revealed that the league’s UK branch recorded a cumulative loss of 1.1 billion USD from launch through the end of 2024, including 450 million USD 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 split. I said last time on this podcast that 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 double the money to do the same work, it’s kind of hard to say no.’
He believes LIV Golf has so far failed to gain lasting appeal among fans but acknowledged it contains some positive elements. Calling himself a ‘traditionalist,’ he suggested this might limit his perspective. He said, ‘They came in saying, “We will be different, we will be this, we will be that.” Even switching from 54 to 72 holes to earn world ranking points is just doing what everyone else does.’ He added, ‘So what’s different now—except the money?’