Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about the future of LIV Golf and discusses returning players to the PGA Tour in a recent podcast.
In a podcast episode over 60 minutes long on the English channel ‘The Overlap‘ from the series ‘Stick to Football’ released on Friday, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy shared doubts about the long-term future of the LIV Golf League, financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy discussed his fundamental stance on LIV Golf and explained why he has no personal connection to the league, also touching on the possibility of former PGA Tour players returning.
The five-time major winner and one of LIV Golf’s most vocal critics since its 2022 inception suggested that the PIF might consider shutting down the new league if it fails to turn a profit long-term. He stated, ‘I don’t know, but if LIV can’t excite fans and they’ve invested so much money 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 secured about half a billion euros in sponsorships over the past ten months, the break-even point remains unclear. The newsletter ‘Money in Sport’ projected in May 2025 that PIF’s investments would reach five billion USD by the end of 2025. Furthermore, the British branch of the league recorded a total loss of 1.1 billion USD between its launch and the end of 2024, including 450 million USD in 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 massive split. I said previously in this podcast I might have been too quick to judge the guys who went there because not everyone is in the same situation as me,’ McIlroy said, adding, ‘When you’re offered double the money for the same work, it’s hard to turn down.’
McIlroy believes LIV Golf has yet to gain sustainable support from fans but acknowledged it contains some positive aspects. Labeling himself a ‘traditionalist,’ he suspects this influences his perspective. ‘They came in saying, \”We will be different, we will be this, we will be that.\” Even changing from 54 to 72 holes to gain world ranking points is just doing what everyone else does,’ he said. ‘So what’s really different—besides the money?’
Rory McIlroy on LIV Golf Returnees and the 2025 Ryder Cup