Rory McIlroy Ready to Welcome Back Bryson DeChambeau and Other LIV Golfers to PGA Tour Without Any Fines

Rory McIlroy is open to welcoming back Bryson DeChambeau and other LIV Golfers to the PGA Tour without them paying any penalties.

Rory McIlroy Ready to Welcome Back Bryson DeChambeau and Other LIV Golfers to PGA Tour Without Any Fines

Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau (Image via Imago)

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Rory McIlroy has once again spoken about LIV Golfers. In a recent episode of The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, the 5-time major champion expressed that he was ready to welcome back Bryson DeChambeau and other LIV Golf stars to the PGA Tour without any fines.

The Northern Irish golfer was once a huge critic of LIV Golf. After the Public Investment Fund (PIF) backed league caused a divide in golf, he would slam them several times.

Following the announcement of the golf merger in June 2023, his stance started to shift a bit. During an appearance on the Stick to Football podcast in January 2024, the golfer admitted that he was a little judgmental of the players who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.

Since then, he has several times advocated for the return of LIV golfers to the PGA Tour. In his recent appearance on the Stick to Football podcast, he claimed that he was ready to welcome them back without any further penalties and fines, as they had already paid the “consequences” for leaving the tour.

I think they’ve already paid their consequence. They’ve made the money but they’ve paid their consequence in terms of the reputation and some of the things they’ve lost by going over there. If it made the overall tour stronger to have Bryson DeChambeau back and whoever else, I would be okay with it.

Rory McIlroy said on Stick to Football podcast

These words from McIlroy come just a few days after LIV Golf received a major shock with the departure of Brooks Koepka. The American international, who was one of the high-profile names that left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf, left the Saudi-backed tour after 4 years.

At the moment, it is unclear whether Koepka will be allowed to play on the PGA Tour. McIlroy, however, would likely be happy to see him return and compete with them on weekly basis again.

Rory McIlroy casts doubts on longevity of LIV Golf

During his podcast appearance, Rory McIlroy even dropped some bold comments regarding LIV Golf. The World No.2 expressed that the Saudi-backed tour had not “resonated” well with the fans and cast doubts on the longevity of the league.

Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy (Image via Imago)

Since its inception, LIV Golf has received some major flak from golfers and experts regarding its format. The league has undergone some big changes and will be shifting to a traditional 72-hole format from the 2026 season.

Apart from that, the league has also reapplied for the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) points. The league is yet to receive these ranking points, which affect the rankings of their players and make it difficult for them to qualify for the major championships. With all of this going on, the 36-year-old is unsure about the future of them.

I don’t know but if LIV is failing to capture the imagination and they’ve spent so much money on this venture and it isn’t making a return for them, I don’t know how much longer they can keep it going.

Rory McIlroy said regarding LIV Golf on Stick to Football podcast

LIV Golf will begin its 5th season on February 4, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This time, the league will have 57 players due to the addition of 5 wildcard members. As for the PGA Tour, they will begin their season from January 15 as players tee up at the Sony Open in Hawaii in Honolulu.

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