Rory McIlroy and LIV Golfers Agree on One Thing: Split Is Bad for the Game of Golf

So far in 2024, we’ve seen LIV Golf make strong additions (Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton) to its roster to little in the way of results on U.S. television. PGA Tour TV ratings are down – even for big events like The Players Championship that saw Scottie Scheffler and Wyndham Clark battle it out to the end.

All the while, PGA Tour executives continue to negotiate with members of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) to try to finalize a deal that was agreed to almost a year ago now.

While we wait to see if a deal is struck, top golfers from both sides of golf’s split are starting to feel the pinch.

Rory McIlroy Exclusive: “What’s happening is not sustainable right now” https://t.co/VKp6j0wqYj

— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) April 2, 2024

Rory McIlroy said in an interview with Golf Monthly:

“I think what’s happening is not sustainable right now, so something needs to happen to try to bring it all back together so we can all move forward so we don’t have this division that’s sort of ongoing. They keep going down those different paths and I just don’t see how that benefits anyone in the long run. … I think [it’s] a shame for the overall game of golf.”

While preparing for this weekend’s LIV event in Miami, many of the circuit’s top stars agreed with McIlroy’s assessment.

Bryson DeChambeau also commented on the matter:

“If we don’t have fans, we don’t have golf. That’s the most important thing as of right now — the low-hanging fruit There’s got to be a way to come together. And it needs to happen fast. It’s not a two-year thing. Like it needs to happen quicker rather than later just for the good of the sport. Too many people are losing interest.”

Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau Lament Delay in LIV Golf/PGA Tour Deal: ‘It Needs to Happen Fast’ https://t.co/9Q5Gx8CGPC via @SInow

— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) April 3, 2024

Phil Mickelson, who was the first big name to make the jump to LIV when it was announced in 2022, believes things will be better in the long run.

He said:

“Right now, we are in the disruption phase, so we are in the middle of the process. And when it’s all said and done, it’s going to be a lot brighter. But while we go through it, it’s challenging. But we’ll get there.”

Jon Rahm said:

“I think we have the opportunity to end up with an even better product for the spectators and the fans of the game. A little bit more variety doesn’t really hurt anybody. So I think, properly done, we can end up with a much better product that can take golf to the next level worldwide, and I’m hoping that’s what ends up happening.”

Next week, 13 LIV golfers will meet up with the best from the PGA Tour for the Masters.

Cover Image via Golf Magazine