Rory McIlroy suggests LIV Golf have an issue which will cost them $6 billion to solve

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No PGA Tour player has arguably shown a greater willingness to discuss their view on LIV Golf and the sport’s current landscape than Rory McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy made it clear from the very early stages of LIV Golf‘s arrival onto the scene that he had no intention to make the jump from the PGA Tour. He also never shied away from criticising the breakaway league.

Ultimately, his stance has softened as time has gone on. McIlroy admitted in 2024 that he was too judgemental about those who decided to join LIV, in comments reported by the Guardian.

By that time, the framework agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV’s owners the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia was already in place.

Rory McIlroy suggests the problem LIV Golf is now facing

Oddly, that announcement back in June 2023 has not led to reunification. It did appear close earlier this year, with Tiger Woods expecting a merger to go through.

However, talks have subsequently stopped altogether. And McIlroy believes that the PGA Tour still maintains the upper hand.

Speaking at the CEO Council Forum, McIlroy suggested that LIV Golf is going to have a big problem in the years to come as they look to keep all of their superstars happy.

“Golf is such a good place, but at the same time, you see some of these other sports that have been fractured for so long, you look at boxing for example, or you look at what’s happened in motor racing in the United States with Indy and NASCAR and everything else, I think for golf in general it would be better if there was unification. But I just think with what’s happened over the last few years, it’s just going to be very difficult to be able to do that,” he said.

“As someone who supports the PGA Tour and someone who supports the traditional structure of men’s professional golf, we have to realise we were trying to deal with people that were acting, in some ways, irrationally, just in terms of the capital they were allocating and the money they were spending. And it’s been four or five years and there hasn’t been a return yet.

“But they’re going to have to keep spending that money to even just maintain what they have right now. A lot of these guys’ contracts are up. They’re going to ask for the same number or an even bigger number. LIV have spent $5 or $6 billion and they’re going to have to spend another five or six just to maintain where they are.

“So if I’m looking at the world of golf, I’m way more comfortable being on the PGA Tour side than on their side. But who knows what’ll happen? As I said, I think the leadership that Brian [Rolapp] has shown already and where he wants the PGA Tour to go, I think everyone on the PGA Tour feels like we’re in a good place and trusts his guidance and leadership will position us in the right place.”

Why Rory McIlroy had to tell himself off following his Masters triumph earlier this year

McIlroy also spoke about his Masters victory earlier this year. Few will ever forget the emotional walk the Northern Irishman made from the 18th green knowing that he had finally secured sporting immortality.

He now gets to wear the green jacket he must have doubted ever getting his hands on.

And of course, many want to see the 36-year-old in the garment which locked up his spot as one of the greatest of all-time.

But McIlroy joked that he had to give himself a talking to recently after briefly feeling that attending events with the jacket was becoming something of a burden.

“So most places that I go now, I travelled, I was in India a few weeks ago, I was in the Middle East the last two weeks, and most places you go if you’re doing events, the people want to see the green jacket. So you bring the green jacket with you,” he said.

“Sometimes you don’t want to wear it. I sort of complained about wearing it in Abu Dhabi, and I said to my wife Erica, ‘if you ever hear me complain about wearing this thing again, punch me or do something’, because I’ve waited my whole life to wear this and now I’m complaining about wearing it.

“It’s amazing, the fact that you can show it to people. I think it was the first green jacket ever in India. So just doing little things are very cool perks.”

Certainly, while the PGA Tour have McIlroy in their corner, they are always likely to find themselves in an extremely strong position.