Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about LIV Golf’s future and talks about players returning to the PGA Tour.
In a podcast episode over 60 minutes long in the series ‘Stick to Football’ on the English channel ‘The Overlap‘, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy voiced skepticism about the long-term future of the LIV Golf League, which is funded by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy discussed his general view on LIV Golf and explained why he personally feels no 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 sharpest critics since its founding in 2022 speculated that the PIF might consider shutting down the newly founded league if the venture does not turn a profit long-term. McIlroy said, ‘I don’t know, but if LIV can’t attract fans and they’ve invested so much money in this project without it paying off, I don’t know how long they can sustain it.’
Despite LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announcing in late October 2025 that the league has garnered around half a billion euros in sponsorships over the past ten months, it remains unclear when profits might be achieved. The ‘Money in Sport’ newsletter predicted in May 2025 that PIF’s investments could reach five billion USD by the end of 2025. Later in October, it was revealed that LIV’s UK branch reported 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’s caused a massive split. Last time on this podcast, I said I might have been a bit quick to judge the guys who went there, because not everyone is in the same position as me,’ McIlroy said. He added, ‘When you’re offered double the money for the same work, it’s kind of hard to say no.’
McIlroy believes LIV Golf has so far failed to gain lasting support from fans and viewers, though he acknowledged some positive aspects of the league. Calling himself a ‘traditionalist,’ he suspected this shapes his perspective. He said, ‘They came in saying, ‘We will be different, we will be this, we will be that.’ Even the fact they changed from 54 to 72 holes to gain world ranking points is like just doing what everyone else does. So what is different—besides the money?’