When LIV Golf emerged in 2022, Rory McIlroy was among those who fiercely opposed the Saudi-backed venture.
There’s no doubt the Northern Irishman is far from sold on the LIV Golf product, and the same could be said of golf fans after desperately low viewing figures emerged from the LIV Golf Riyadh event.
However, having previously opposed the idea of LIV players returning to the PGA Tour, McIlroy now believes reunification must happen. Currently, the world’s best players only play against each other in the four major championships.
What a merger looks like remains to be seen, but with Adam Scott and Jay Monahan engaging in talks with Donald Trump, there’s a belief progress will soon be made. Furthermore, Tiger Woods played a round with Trump in Florida last week.
There are undoubtedly players on both sides who would be eager to compete on LIV and the PGA Tour, and McIlroy discussed the possibility during his pre-tournament press conference at the Genesis Invitational.
Rory McIlroy discusses Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm PGA Tour return
Rahm and DeChambeau are arguably LIV’s biggest signings. Nevertheless, McIlroy believes the pair should be given the chance to return.
“There are guys that were on the PGA Tour that went to play on LIV and if they still have status, sure, come back, come back and play. Like for us, they’ve all got equity in this Tour. Having Bryson DeChambeau come back and play on this Tour is good,” McIlroy said when discussing the 2024 US Open champ.
“I think he should have the ability to earn equity, but I think what we have been given equity in this Tour as a, I guess, quote-unquote, company — like for being loyal in some way or staying. But I think these guys coming back, I think they should have the opportunity to earn equity, which I think will happen.”
McIlroy went on to claim Rahm would love to return and play a select number of PGA Tour events, including the WM Phoenix Open.
“Like Jon Rahm would love to play here this week, or he would love to play the Phoenix Open. There are certain events that they definitely miss. I think the hard thing for me, you know, is they – they want to do that, but then they also want to play a few events here,” McIlroy added.
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Does Jon Rahm want to play on the PGA Tour?
Rahm was linked with a return to the PGA Tour during last year’s LIV Golf Greenbrier event, but the rumours were quickly dispelled.
Still, back in September, Rahm spoke of his desire to play specific PGA Tour events as well as the LIV Golf schedule.
“Few or almost none of the players would want to play a whole year on the PGA Tour again because it would be impossible to combine the two. But being able to have the option of playing certain tournaments is what I said,” he said.
“If we started (the LIV season) in February, in January, I would have time to play Torrey Pines (Farmers Insurance Open) and the American Express… It would be cases like that to be able to come here without problems, and enjoy being a DP World Tour member as I am.”
What Bryson DeChambeau has said about PGA Tour return
DeChambeau hasn’t been as public about his PGA Tour desires as Rahm. However, the two-time US Open champion would undoubtedly be open to a return.
As one of golf’s most popular figures, the American would probably be the one player Jay Monahan would want back participating regularly on Tour.
DeChambeau is open to competing in the TGL, which suggests that he would be more than willing to return if the right opportunity arises in the coming months.
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