“He’s on the Tour’s side,” Rory McIlroy reveals Donald Trump is not a fan of LIV Golf format
Rory McIlroy has claimed that Donald Trump is not a huge fan of the LIV Golf format despite his courses hosting several of their events.
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Rory McIlroy and Donald Trump (Image via Imago)
Ahead of the 2025 Genesis Invitational, Rory McIlroy revealed a major thing regarding Donald Trump. He claimed that the 47th U.S. President is not a fan of the LIV Golf format and believes he is on the side of the PGA Tour in this civil war.
Last week, the PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, along with player-director Adam Scott and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods, visited Trump at the White House. In a long conversation, the trio would ask for his help to close out the ongoing merger deal with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia.
In the press conference of the Genesis Invitational, McIlroy spoke on Trump and the ongoing merger situation. During this he revealed that he played a round with him before his inauguration in January.
As per McIlroy, Donald Trump told him he is not a fan of LIV Golf’s format despite the Saudi-backed tour hosting some of its events on his golf courses. The Trump Doral course is also set to host the LIV Golf Miami event from April 4 to 6, one week before the Masters Tournament.
I learned that he’s not a fan of the LIV format. I was like, ‘But you’ve hosted their events?’ He was like, ‘Yeah, but it doesn’t mean that I like it.’ So I think he’s on the Tour’s side.
Rory McIlroy told the reporters at the Genesis Invitational press conference
🚨🇺🇸🏌️♂️#WATCH: Rory McIlroy says President Trump is “not a fan” of the LIV Golf format and “He’s on the Tour’s side.” 👀 @TrackingRory
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) February 12, 2025
pic.twitter.com/5VZ3o6XWGg
The LIV Golf format is something that has been criticized by several people before. Unlike the other professional tours, LIV Golf only plays 54 holes instead of the traditional 72 holes. They also do not have any cuts, use a shotgun start, and incorporate team play.
Rory McIlroy admits LIV Golf has had significant financial impact on golf
After years of bashing LIV Golf, Rory McIlroy took a dramatic U-turn last year on them. It now seems that the North Irish golfer has gotten over his anger with them. During the press conference, he admitted that LIV Golf has had a significant financial impact on golf.
With the league being backed by the PIF of Saudi Arabia, LIV Golf has a good amount of money with them. They have used this money to dish out big contracts to players to join them. Their events also have a huge purse of $20 million with the winner taking home $4 million.
Their establishment has seen the PGA Tour increase their prize money as well. In the past few years, some of the signature and major championship events have increased their prize money.
Rory McIlroy has now thanked them for this. He claimed that due to them, he has earned more than he did in 2019.
We’ve all done better from all of this. Whether you stayed on the PGA Tour, you left, we have all benefitted from this, and I’ve, I’ve been on the record saying this a lot. Like we’re playing for $20 million prize fund from this week, like that would’ve never happened if LIV hadn’t come around.
Rory McIlroy told the reporters during the Genesis Invitational press conference
"We're playing for a $20 million prize fund this week. That would have never happened if LIV hadn't have come around."
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) February 12, 2025
Rory McIlroy says all players have benefitted from the creation of LIV and that it's time to move forward and do what's best for the game. pic.twitter.com/9im9KOKaEj
This week McIlroy and the other PGA Tour stars will take part in the Genesis Invitational at the Torrey Pines course which will have a $20 million purse. McIlroy will tee up in the first round alongside Viktor Hovland and Adam Scott at 1:14 p.m. Eastern Time.
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Vinay Dave
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