Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about LIV Golf’s future and discusses former players returning to the PGA Tour in a recent podcast.
Northern Irish star Rory McIlroy shared his reservations about the long-term prospects of the LIV Golf League during a more than 60-minute episode of the \”Stick to Football\” podcast series on the English channel The Overlap released last Friday. Financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), LIV Golf has faced criticism since its inception in 2022. McIlroy discussed his fundamental stance regarding LIV Golf, explaining his lack of personal connection to the league and addressing the potential return of former PGA Tour players.
The five-time major champion and one of LIV Golf’s harshest critics speculated that the PIF might consider shutting down the league if it fails to turn a profit in the long term. McIlroy stated, \”I don’t know, but if LIV can’t captivate audiences and they have invested so much money into this project without returns, I don’t know how much longer they can sustain it.\”
Despite LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announcing in late October 2025 that the league has earned roughly half a billion euros in sponsorship over the past ten months, it remains uncertain when profits may materialize. The \”Money in Sport\” newsletter forecasted in May 2025 that PIF’s investments in LIV Golf would reach five billion USD by the end of 2025. Later in October, it was reported that the league’s UK branch had already posted a total loss of 1.1 billion USD between its launch and the end of 2024, including 450 million USD losses 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 split. Last time on this podcast, I said maybe I was a bit too quick to judge the guys who went there, as not everyone is in the same position as me,\” McIlroy said, adding, \”If someone offers you twice the money for the same work, it’s hard to turn down.\”
McIlroy also believes LIV Golf has yet to gain lasting support from fans and viewers, though he acknowledged the league has some positive aspects. Calling himself a \”traditionalist,\” he suspects this influences his perspective. Nonetheless, he commented, \”They came in saying