Rory McIlroy Throws Shade at LIV Golf Stars Who Do Not Want to Return to PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy broke his silence regarding the LIV Golf saga in his first start since the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National.

Rory McIlroy Throws Shade at LIV Golf Stars Who Do Not Want to Return to PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy (Image via Imago)

On Friday, Rory McIlroy shared his thoughts regarding the ongoing situation with LIV Golf. The 6-time major champion proceeded to throw a shade at some LIV golfers who do not want to come back to the PGA Tour.

Last week, the breakaway tour officially confirmed the withdrawal of funding by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia had been backing the tour since 2021 and had reportedly invested over $5 billion in them.

After the end of this current season, the LIV Golf circuit will lose the financial support of the PIF. With their loss, there have been speculations that the league could fold and cease to exist.

Amidst this, some golfers are reported to have started contacting the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour over a potential return. However, there are some who do not want to come back.

In a recent interview with The Times, Anirban Lahiri claimed that he knows around a dozen golfers who would rather retire from professional golf than return to the PGA Tour. Before this, 4Aces GC member Thomas Pieters told golf insider Dan Rapaport that he was ready to call it quits after initial reports of the PIF pulling the plug on LIV Golf came out.

At the Truist Championship at Quail Hollow, McIlroy was asked his thoughts. The World No.2, who was making his first start since his 2026 Masters Tournament victory, took a shot at some LIV golfers. While speaking to the media, he expressed that it told a lot about someone who did not want to come and play on the PGA Tour.

If you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, this is the place to be. And if you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you.

Rory McIlroy told the reporters

One prominent name who is not too keen to return appears to be Bryson DeChambeau. The 2-time major champion has been highly vocal in support of his league.

Recently, he expressed that he would focus on growing his YouTube channel and increasing his popularity on social media if the league closes down after the end of the season.

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Rory McIlroy is ready to welcome back LIV Golfers if they come back to PGA Tour

While some dark clouds are looming over LIV Golf’s future, some of their stars do not want to return to the PGA Tour. But what about those who want to? Rory McIlroy is ready to welcome back stars who want to come back to the PGA Tour.

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy (Image via Imago)

In the beginning, McIlroy was a staunch supporter of the PGA Tour and a big critic of LIV Golf. The golfer had some huge words for those who caused a massive divide in the sport of golf.

However, in 2024, the former World No.1 softened his stance regarding them and admitted he was a little judgmental of those who left. Since then, he has been open to players returning to the PGA Tour.

He still is. While mentioning Brian Rolapp, the 37-year-old claimed that if the return of some players makes the Tour’s product great, then he is ready for that.

If it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, you know, I think Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this Tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that. That’s just good business practice.

Rory McIlroy told the reporters

Earlier this year, the PGA Tour reinstated 5-time major champion Brooks Koepka. The American international stunned the golf world by leaving LIV Golf at the end of 2025. As a result of his 2023 PGA Championship win, Koepka returned through the Returning Member Program.

A few days later, 9-time PGA Tour winner Patrick Reed also announced his departure from the LIV circuit. Unlike Koepka, though, he was not reinstated immediately. He will return to the Tour next year but is eligible to play in the later events this year.

Reports from Golf Digest claimed that golfers who want to return could face many more restrictions than Koepka and Reed did. Some believe that the LIV stars should be made to go through the Korn Ferry Tour to earn their Tour card to regain entry on the big stage.

Only time will tell what will happen eventually. For now, McIlroy will turn his focus to the Truist Championship, where he is T8 at 5-under par after 2 rounds.

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