Rory McIlroy drops stunning 4-word bomb on LIV Golf, PGA Tour unity

Rory McIlroy has utterly modified his tune about LIV Golf, saying that skilled golf can solely transfer ahead collectively.

His transformative feedback come days earlier than his PGA Tour season debut on the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am, the second Signature Occasion of the 2024 season.

LIV Golf will start its 2024 season at Mayakoba in Mexico this weekend, that means the very best gamers on the planet won’t compete alongside each other.

“Guys made decisions to go and play LIV; guys made decisions to remain [on the PGA Tour],” McIlroy stated Tuesday.

“If folks nonetheless have eligibility on this tour and need to come again and play, otherwise you need to try to do one thing, allow them to come again.”

These last 4 phrases are a stark departure from the place McIlroy appeared to face on the problem not too way back.

For the reason that Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF) launched LIV in 2022, the PIF has signed dozens of high-profile gamers for hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to assist create status and notoriety. It additionally needed to rival the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Dustin Johnson initially went to LIV, whereas Cameron Smith and others later adopted go well with.

Then, this previous December, Jon Rahm signed an earth-shattering cope with LIV for north of $400 million. Tyrell Hatton then adopted him and joined the Saudi-backed circuit this week for $63 million.

In response, the PGA Tour instantly suspended and banned any participant who joined the Saudi-backed circuit. They haven’t been allowed again on the PGA Tour since.

In the meantime, LIV gamers have seen their salaries develop exponentially, as they’ve needed to play solely 14 occasions yearly. Some LIV golfers nonetheless have eligibility within the majors, too. Since its onset, LIV has employed a world schedule with a 54-hole, shotgun begin format.

Critics have referred to as it an “exhibition,” whereas Ernie Els has even referred to it as “Circus golf.”

Final June, McIlroy echoed these sentiments, admitting that he “hated LIV.”

A month later, McIlroy doubled down, saying, “If LIV Golf have been the final place to play golf on Earth, I might retire.” He declared this earlier than final yr’s Genesis Scottish Open in July, a match he went on to win.

Quick ahead seven months and McIlroy has reversed his stance. He has admitted to doing so, too.

“I feel it’s arduous to punish folks. I don’t assume there ought to be a punishment for [going to LIV],” McIlroy added Tuesday.

“I’ve modified my tune on that as a result of I see the place golf is. Having a diminished PGA Tour and a diminished LIV Tour or anything is dangerous for each events. It could be a lot better to be collectively and transfer ahead collectively for the great of the sport. That’s my opinion of it.”

This week’s AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am options 10 of the highest 11 gamers within the Official World Golf Rankings, with Rahm being the outlier.

Regardless of that, LIV Golf has decimated the PGA Tour’s product, as the game has by no means been so fractured.

McIlroy is aware of that. He even admitted that successful this week wouldn’t carry as a lot weight because it as soon as used to.

“I’d prefer to win right here and rise up with a trophy on 18 inexperienced and know that I’ve overwhelmed all the finest gamers on the planet,” McIlroy stated.

“To me, the sooner that we will all get again collectively and begin to play and begin to have the strongest fields doable could be nice for golf.”

In fact, the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and the Saudi PIF are holding discussions on what the way forward for golf will appear to be.

But, the PGA Tour just lately accepted a $3 billion funding from a consortium of American skilled sports activities house owners. That deal may jeopardize any settlement with the PIF, which in flip, may maintain golf divided.

“We’re in a special [spot] than a yr in the past as a result of we’re doubtlessly about to do a cope with PIF, who owns the massive majority of LIV, and hopefully we see issues come again collectively right here sooner or later,” McIlroy stated.

“I feel the character of the dialog might be completely different than it might have been a yr in the past.”

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.