Rory McIlroy Flips The Script and Says Positive Things About LIV Golf

Rory McIlroy has been LIV Golf’s biggest critic since the new, controversial tour was created two seasons ago. However, a new statement from the four-time Major Champion showed his tune has truly changed, as he said a number of positive things about LIV and how it has actually forced the PGA Tour to create a better product.

McIlroy’s initial response to LIV defectors was to give them the cold shoulder. We saw that with his response to Patrick Reed approaching him and caddie Harry Diamond on the range during an early season tournament a few years ago. Although there was additional conflict between the two of them, most of which stemmed from ongoing litigation forced upon McIlroy and others by Reed, Rory was never someone who was willing to give LIV the benefit of the doubt.

However, it appears that time, and the most recent defector Jon Rahm, who has a significant impact on McIlroy’s Ryder Cup team, may have softened his opinions and passion to despise the only rival to the PGA Tour.

Rory McIlroy: “I’ve been too judgemental of players joining LIV… LIV Golf exposed the PGA Tour’s flaws” 🤯

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— Today’s Golfer (@TheTodaysGolfer) January 3, 2024

In a recent interview with a lineup of some of Europe’s most notable names in soccer, or football to our non-American friends, McIlroy admitted his passion for despising LIV may have gone too far at some points. 

McIlroy notes that his opinions of those who have left may have been “too judgmental:”

“I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the start, and I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realise that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Woods’ position. We all turn professional to make a living playing the sports that we do, and I think that’s what I realised over the last two years. I can’t judge people for making that decision, so if I regret anything, it was probably being too judgmental at the start.”

Additionally, accepting that this is what the sport has come to is now something he has to accept:

“I’ve gone through the last two years with this altruistic approach where I’ve looked at the world the way I’ve wanted to see it. Ultimately, you can say what you want and do what you want, but at the end of the day, you’re not going to be able to change peoples’ minds. You’re never going to make them decide based on what you say. I wouldn’t say I’ve lost the fight against LIV, but I’ve just accepted the fact that this is part of our sport now.”

McIlroy also notes that LIV caused such a massive disruption in the game of golf that it has been more divisive than ever, which could be looked at as true. There was so much division in the game a few years ago that it must have been awkward to show up to Majors where recent defectors had not seen the PGA Tour counterparts since, and thus, a grey storm cloud loomed over what are the four biggest tournaments of the year.

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He noted in the interview that the "massive upheaval" in golf that LIV's creation caused was "sad to see," and the fact that players and fans have taken sides has ultimately caused a lot of a tension in the game. "It's not good for anyone," he added."

However, he also recognizes that the PGA Tour needed something to improve: 

"Golf has always been built on meritocracy. You shoot the scores, rise up the ranks and you get rewarded accordingly. I think what LIV has done, it’s exposed the flaws in the system of what golf has, because we’re all supposed to be independent contractors and we can pick and choose what tournaments we want to play. But I think what LIV and the Saudis have exposed is that you’re asking for millions of dollars to sponsor these events, and you’re not able to guarantee to the sponsors that the players are going to show up. I can’t believe the PGA Tour has done so well for so long."

It truly seems that the biggest thing that has bothered McIlroy is the fact that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and European Tour, were all a crucial part of the world's best current players' development, and some players who left it for LIV were critical of those promotions. 

"...we’ve all grown up, playing on the European Tour or PGA Tour, and that’s given us a platform to turn into who we are, giving us the profile and everything. So, when people then jump to LIV and start talking crap about where they’ve come from, that is what bothers me because they wouldn’t be in this position if they didn’t have the career they’ve had so far."

Ultimately, McIlroy said he is understanding of why some golfers might have chosen to leave. Money is a big part of it, but Rory said that if you're going to go, just go, and "don't try to burn the place down on your way out."

In terms of his own offers, McIlroy said he was contacted by LIV early on but he did not engage with any communications from the promotion. Therefore, he was never offered a specific figure for his commitment.

"For the last two years, I've been trying to fight the good fight and I've played well," McIlroy says, "but it's not my job to fight against LIV."

Quotes via Todays-Golfer

Cover Image via BBC