Rory McIlroy has now commented on the shocking reports in recent days claiming that the Northern Irishman is close to agreeing a deal to make the move to LIV Golf.
For many, Rory McIlroy going to LIV Golf would confirm once and for all that no player’s comments about staying loyal to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour are worth putting much stock in.
No high-profile player seems to have been a bigger critic of the breakaway tour than McIlroy. And, while his stance seems to have softened as time has gone on, it was still a real shock when reports in the last few few days claimed that he was about to make the jump.
It was reported that McIlroy was close to joining LIV Golf in an $850 million deal.
Unsurprisingly, those reports were shot down fairly quickly. And McIlroy himself has now spoken about the reports in an interview with Golf Channel today.
Rory McIlroy responds to reports he’s close to joining LIV Golf
The four-time major champion insisted that he will not be leaving the PGA Tour in a big-money defection.
“I honestly don’t know how these things get started. I’ve never been offered a number from LIV. And I’ve never contemplated going to LIV,” he said.
“I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think that it’s something for me. Doesn’t mean that I judge people that have gone and played over there. I think one of the things that I’ve realised over the past two years is people can make their own decisions for whatever they think is best for themselves. Who are we to judge them for that?
“But personally for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour and it’s never been any different.”
PGA Tour given another scare – and it won’t be the last
Of course, all bets seem to be off after Jon Rahm made the move ahead of this season. That was a game-changing decision in the sport’s recent history.
Rahm was The Masters champion at the time. And there was absolutely no question that he was one of the world’s best golfers, with the Spaniard leading Team Europe’s Ryder Cup win in Rome.
What Rahm’s move has surely done is increase the likelihood of the tours reaching an agreement and coming back together at some stage.
But it has also created a sense of real doubt. Rahm also made comments about not joining LIV in the past. So if he could go, you really get the feeling that almost anyone could change their mind.
Thankfully for the PGA Tour, McIlroy remains adamant that he is not one of those prepared to turn his back on them.
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