Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about LIV Golf’s future and discusses PGA Tour returnees in a recent podcast.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy shared his thoughts in a 60-minute episode of the “Stick to Football” podcast series by the English channel The Overlap released on Friday, voicing skepticism about the long-term prospects of the LIV Golf League, which is backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy discussed his general stance on LIV Golf and why he does not feel a personal connection to the league, as well as the possibility of former PGA Tour players returning.
The five-time major champion, a vocal critic of LIV Golf since its 2022 inception, speculated that the PIF might consider shutting down the league if it fails to turn a profit. McIlroy stated: ‘I don’t know, but if LIV can’t engage fans and they’ve invested so much money without payback, I don’t know how long they can keep that up.’
Even though LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced in late October 2025 that the league raised about half a billion euros in sponsorship over the past ten months, it remains unclear when profitability might be achieved. The “Money in Sport” newsletter predicted in May 2025 that the Saudi PIF’s investments would grow to five billion USD by the end of 2025. By October, it was reported that the league’s UK branch had already suffered a total loss of 1.1 billion USD between its launch and the end of 2024, with 450 million USD lost 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 caused a massive divide. Last time on this podcast, I said I might have been too quick to judge the guys who went because not everyone is in the same position as me,’ McIlroy said. He added: ‘If someone offers you twice the money for the same work, it’s hard to say no.’
McIlroy also believes LIV Golf has yet to find a lasting fan base but acknowledged some positive elements. Calling himself a ‘traditionalist,’ he suggested this might limit his perspective. He said: ‘They came in and said, ”
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“Even the fact they switched from 54 to 72 holes to earn world ranking points