Rory McIlroy voices doubts about LIV Golf’s future and discusses ex-players returning to the PGA Tour in a recent podcast.
Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy expressed skepticism about the long-term future of the LIV Golf league during a 60-minute episode of the \”Stick to Football\” podcast series on the English channel The Overlap, released last Friday. The league is funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy discussed his fundamental stance towards LIV Golf and explained why he does not have a personal connection to the league. He also touched on the possibility of former PGA Tour players returning to the tour.
The five-time major winner and one of LIV Golf’s sharpest critics since its founding in 2022 speculated that the PIF might consider shutting down the new league entirely if it fails to yield profits long-term. McIlroy stated, \”I don’t know, but if LIV can’t excite viewers, and they have invested so much money into this project without returns, I don’t know how much longer 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 sponsorships over the past ten months, it remains unclear when the league might turn a profit. The \”Money in Sport\” newsletter projected in May 2025 that the PIF’s investments would reach five billion USD by the end of 2025. Furthermore, in October, it became known that the league’s UK branch recorded a total loss of 1.1 billion USD between its launch and the end of 2024, including 450 million USD in losses during 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 caused a huge division. Last time on this podcast, I said I might have been too quick to judge the guys who went there, since not everyone is in the same position as me,\” McIlroy said, adding, \”When you’re offered double the money for the same work, it’s hard to say no.\”
At the same time, McIlroy believes LIV Golf has yet to gain lasting appeal among fans and viewers but acknowledged that the league includes some positive aspects. He described himself as a \”traditionalist\” and suggested this biases his thinking. Nevertheless, he said,