Rory McIlroy expresses doubts about LIV Golf’s future and discusses former players returning to the PGA Tour in a recent podcast.
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy shared his skepticism about the long-term future of the LIV Golf League during an over 60-minute episode of the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast series by the English channel The Overlap, released on Friday. Funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), McIlroy spoke about his general stance towards LIV Golf and why he has no personal connection to the league. He also discussed the possibility of former PGA Tour players making a return.
The five-time major champion and a strong critic of LIV Golf since its 2022 inception speculated that the PIF might consider discontinuing the league if it fails to generate long-term profits. McIlroy commented: ‘I don’t know, but if LIV can’t excite the fans and they’ve spent so much money on this project without returns, I don’t know how long they can sustain it.’
Although LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil announced in late October 2025 that the league secured about half a billion euros in sponsorship over the past ten months, the timeline for profitability remains uncertain. The ‘Money in Sport’ newsletter predicted in May 2025 that PIF’s investments would reach five billion USD by the end of 2025. Additionally, the UK branch of the league reported a total loss of 1.1 billion USD between its inception and the end of 2024, including 450 million USD 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 divide. Last time on this podcast, I said I might’ve been too quick to judge those who went there, as not everyone is in the same position as me,” McIlroy said, adding, “If you’re offered double the money for the same work, it’s pretty hard to say no.”
McIlroy also believes LIV Golf has yet to gain lasting support from fans, though he acknowledges some positive elements within the league. Calling himself a traditionalist, he suspects that mindset shapes his views. He noted, “They came in saying, ‘We’ll be different, we’ll be this and that.’ Even changing from 54 to 72 holes to earn world ranking points just