Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about LIV Golf’s future and discusses players returning to the PGA Tour in a podcast.
In a podcast episode over an hour long of the series ‘Stick to Football’ on the English channel ‘The Overlap’, which was released on Friday, Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy expressed skepticism about the long-term future of the LIV Golf League, funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy shared his general stance on LIV Golf and explained why he has no personal 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 inception in 2022 suggested that the PIF might consider shutting down the league if it does not become profitable in the long run. McIlroy said, ‘I don’t know, but if LIV fails to capture the audience, and they’ve invested so much money into this project without returns, I don’t know how long they can sustain it.’
Although LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced at the end of October 2025 that the league had secured about half a billion euros in sponsorships over the past ten months, it remains unclear when profitability might be achieved. The newsletter ‘Money in Sport’ predicted in May 2025 that the PIF’s investments would grow to five billion USD by the end of 2025. Additionally, in October, it was revealed that the UK branch of the league had recorded 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 has caused a massive split. I said last time on this podcast that I may have been a bit quick to judge the guys who went there because not everyone is in the same position as I am,’ McIlroy said, adding, ‘If you’re offered double the money for the same work, it’s kind of hard to turn down.’
McIlroy believes LIV Golf has yet to find lasting support among fans and viewers, though he acknowledged that the league does have some positive elements. He described himself as a ‘traditionalist’ and speculated that this might limit his thinking. Still, he noted, ‘They came in and said, ‘We will be different, we will be this, we will be that.’ Even the fact they changed from 54 to 72 holes to earn world ranking points is basically just doing what everyone else does.’ He added, ‘So what’s really different – apart from the money?’
Rory McIlroy on LIV Golf Returnees and the 2025 Ryder Cup
Regarding the potential return of former LIV players to the PGA Tour – as recently seen with Brooks Koepka after four years at