Rory McIlroy’s Regret About Getting Involved in PGA Tour-LIV Saga

As we approach the two-year anniversary of LIV Golf’s first tournament and the one-year mark of the “framework agreement” between what is now PGA Tour Enterprises and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) being announced, one of the most central figures in the war of words that’s ensued has been Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy was one of the most vocal critics of LIV in its first year. After the June 6 announcement a year ago, the PGA Tour star said he felt like a “sacrificial lamb” by siding with the PGA Tour, only for it to enter into an agreement with LIV’s benefactors.

Rory McIlroy on Phil Mickelson’s attempt to recruit PGA players for the new Saudi tour despite their horrendous human rights record: “Naive, selfish, egotistical, ignorant .. very surprising, disappointing, sad.” pic.twitter.com/VfJsTeUvgq

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 21, 2022

In December, McIlroy’s stance cooled after Jon Rahm announced his intentions to join LIV. Since then, he has been one of the leading voices to get the sides to finalize the agreement.

While in Ontario to promote the RBC Canadian Open, which he won in 2019 and ‘22, McIlroy says he regrets getting involved to the point that he did.

McIlroy said Wednesday:

“In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t have gotten as deeply involved in it. My whole thing is, I’m just disappointed to what it’s done to, not to the game of golf – the game of golf will be fine – but men’s professional golf and this sort of divide we have at the minute. Hopefully, we’re on a path to sorting that out and getting that to come back together. I hold no grudge; I hold no resentment over the guys that chose to go and play on LIV. Everyone’s got their own decisions to make, and everyone has the right to make those decisions.”

Rory McIlroy and PGA Tour chief Jay Monahan in deep conversation for the past 10 minutes here during Wednesday morning Pro Am at the RBC Canadian Open in Hamilton. Plenty to chew on. pic.twitter.com/FiJSrqiIbM

— Joe Callaghan (@JoeCallaghan84) May 29, 2024

McIlroy’s off-the-course life has been eventful. Last fall, he resigned from the PGA Tour policy board. He tried to get back on it last month but didn’t have the players’ support to do so. He was then named to the transaction subcommittee that is directly negotiating to try and close the PIF deal. It also came out last month that he and wife Erica Stoll will be divorcing.

Cover Image via Sporting Life