Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about LIV Golf’s future and discusses possible returns to the PGA Tour in a recent podcast.
In a more than 60-minute episode of the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast series by the English channel ‘The Overlap‘, released on Friday, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy voiced skepticism about the long-term future of the LIV Golf League, which is financed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF). McIlroy discussed his fundamental stance on LIV Golf and explained why he feels 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 fiercest critics since its founding in 2022 speculated that PIF might consider shutting down the newly established league if it fails to generate profits in the long run. McIlroy said, ‘I don’t know, but if LIV can’t engage viewers, and they’ve invested so much money without a payoff, I don’t know how long they can sustain it.’
Despite LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil’s announcement in late October 2025 that the league secured about half a billion euros in sponsorship over the past ten months, it remains unclear when profits might be realized. The ‘Money in Sport’ newsletter projected in May 2025 that PIF’s investments could reach five billion US dollars by the end of 2025. Moreover, by October, the UK branch of the league posted a total loss of 1.1 billion US dollars between its inception and end of 2024, including 450 million US dollars 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 divide. I mentioned in the last podcast that I may have been too quick to judge the guys who went there because not everyone is in the same position as I am,’ McIlroy said, adding, ‘When someone offers double the money for the same work, it’s quite hard to say no.’
McIlroy believes LIV Golf has yet to find lasting appeal among fans and viewers but acknowledges the league has some positive aspects. Calling himself a ‘traditionalist,’ he suspects this influences his viewpoint. He added, ‘They came in saying,