Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about LIV Golf’s future and discusses former players returning to the PGA Tour in a recent podcast.
In a podcast episode over 60 minutes long from the series ‘Stick to Football’ on the English channel The Overlap, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy shared skepticism about the long-term future of the LIV Golf League, financed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy discussed his fundamental stance on LIV Golf, explaining his lack of personal connection to the league and mentioning the possibility of former PGA Tour players returning.
The four-time major champion and one of LIV Golf’s strongest critics since its founding in 2022 speculated that the PIF might consider fully shutting down the new league if it fails to turn a profit in the long run. McIlroy said, \”I don’t know, but if LIV can’t excite the fans and they have 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 raised about half a billion euros in sponsorships over the past ten months, it remains unclear when profits might be achieved. The newsletter ‘Money in Sport’ forecasted as early as May 2025 that PIF’s investments would grow to five billion USD by the end of 2025. In the following October, it also emerged that the league’s UK branch had already recorded a total loss of 1.1 billion USD between its start and the end of 2024, with 450 million USD of that 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 huge divide. Last time on this podcast I said I might have been too quick to judge the guys who went there, because not everyone is in the same position as I am,\” said McIlroy, adding, \”When you’re offered double the money for the same work, it’s kind of hard to say no.\”
He also believes LIV Golf has yet to find lasting appeal with fans and viewers but acknowledged the league has some positive elements. Calling himself a ‘traditionalist,’ McIlroy suggested this might limit his thinking. He remarked, \”They came in and said, ‘We will be different, we will be this, we will be that.’ Even the fact that they have now changed from 54 to 72 holes to gain world ranking points is just doing what everyone