Rory McIlroy Throws Huge Shade at LIV Golf Stars Amidst Talks of Potential PGA Tour Return
Rory McIlroy has often criticized LIV Golf while being highly vocal in support of the PGA Tour.
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Rory McIlroy (Image via Imago)
On Wednesday, Rory McIlroy once again took aim at LIV Golf stars. Ahead of the BMW Championship, the 6-time major champion threw shade at the defectors amidst talks of a potential return to the PGA Tour.
Earlier this month, LIV Golf revealed that it had secured a new lead investor. In a statement released by CEO Scott O’Neil, the league had secured funding for the 2027 season. The tour, dubbed LIV 2.0, will feature 10 events (5 team majors and 5 team signature events) taking place across the world and the United States.
In the midst of this, reports emerged that the league could lose Jon Rahm. According to The Telegraph, LIV sources were “almost resigned” to the news of his departure from the tour after just 3 seasons.
As of now, there has been no official statement regarding Rahm’s future. The Spaniard is still under contract with LIV Golf and will play in the LIV Golf Indianapolis event this week.
In the press conference before the BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri, McIlroy was asked about the potential returns of Rahm and others to the PGA Tour. During this, the World No.2 took a shot at the breakaway tour and questioned whether the players there added any value to the league.
I mean, I would argue, have they brought value to LIV?
Rory McIlroy said
Rory McIlroy on whether LIV Golf players bring value to the PGA Tour if they return:
— Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) August 19, 2026
"I'd argue, have they brought value to LIV?"
(via @jamierkennedy)pic.twitter.com/TTxBjjNVtC
The Northern Irish golfer later claimed that it would be a tough road for anyone who wants to return like Brooks Koepka did earlier this year.
I’m pretty sure they’re not going to be welcomed back straight away. … If they do decide to come back, isn’t going to be as good as the one that Brooks got. So, yeah, I would say it’s going to be a tough, tough road back.
Rory McIlroy added
These words from McIlroy came after Scottie Scheffler shared his thoughts on this. The World No.1 claimed there should be some penalties for those who want to return.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy were both asked about LIV players returning to the PGA Tour and their opinions are… different.
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) August 19, 2026
Rory McIlroy was also asked if he feels any satisfaction after strongly defending the PGA Tour against LIV. pic.twitter.com/DTiVwQnRJh
In December last year, Brooks Koepka sent shockwaves across the golf world by leaving LIV Golf. The 5-time major champion was one of the high-profile names that left the PGA Tour to play on LIV Golf in 2022.
A few weeks later in January, he was reinstated to the PGA Tour through the Returning Member Program. Despite meeting the criteria for this, Rahm did not use this chance to return and remained with LIV Golf.
Rory McIlroy reaffirmed that PGA Tour is the best place to play professional golf
Rory McIlroy has been a huge supporter of the PGA Tour during the battle against LIV Golf. On Wednesday, he reaffirmed that the PGA Tour is the best place to play professional golf while talking about LIV.
While the golfer did soften his stance against LIV golfers, he has remained consistent in his thoughts regarding their tour. Since the start, he has claimed that they are not good for the game of golf. In the BMW Championship presser, he pointed out that the PGA Tour would have done wonders with a $6 billion investment, the reported amount PIF invested in LIV Golf.
LIV has never been a good thing for the game. … I don’t take any personal satisfaction of people like losing jobs. … I’ve always felt like this is the best place to play professional golf. And I’m pretty sure if the PGA Tour were handed 6 billion dollars it would have done a better job with it.
Rory McIlroy added
Rory McIlroy was also asked if this week was to be the last ever event for LIV Golf, if he takes any personal satisfaction given his efforts rallying against it since launch:
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) August 19, 2026
“It's a hard one. Like, I think I feel like I've kept my position consistent that LIV has never been a… https://t.co/7vdmwdJEWK pic.twitter.com/QSwMMrwNLY
It now remains to be seen what happens with those who want to return to the PGA Tour. There have also been reports about the DP World Tour ending the conditional releases of European LIV golfers soon.
With no conditional releases, stars like Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will be subjected to heavy fines once again. They will also be required to play in a certain number of events to keep their DP World Tour membership. Without this, they will not be eligible for the Ryder Cup.
So the big question now is, what will happen to Rahm and the others? Will he and some of them try to leave? Only time will tell.
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