Rory McIlroy’s LIV Golf hatred – £650m contract denial, PGA Tour U-turn, softening stance
From defending the PGA Tour to the hilt to facing LIV stars in 2v2 match, it’s been a crazy few years for Rory McIlroy.
Rory McIlroy leaves the 18th on day three of the 2024 BMW PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy has been PGA through and through – for better or worse
Rory McIlroy’s association with LIV Golf – or lack thereof – has been a tumultuous journey, taking another unexpected twist recently. The 35-year-old Northern Irishman has remained steadfastly loyal to the PGA Tour during a period of upheaval in the sport, effectively serving as an unofficial ambassador for them.
Despite numerous stars defecting to take advantage of Saudi Arabia’s wealth, there was never any doubt about where he would play. However, since the launch of LIV in 2022, the goalposts have shifted repeatedly, leaving McIlroy somewhat embarrassed when the PGA announced merger talks with their rivals last year.
These discussions are still ongoing, while the recent announcement of his and Scottie Scheffler’s 2v2 match against LIV stars Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka sent further shockwaves through the golfing world. In light of that, Express Sport is looking back at how McIlroy’s stance on LIV has evolved.
Initial thoughts
While LIV is only two years old, a breakaway tour had been in the works for nearly a decade. Its precursor, the Premier Golf League, conceived by British businessman Andrew Gardiner, first reached out to McIlroy in 2014.
From the outset, he was resolute, not swaying on the matter. Speaking in 2020, McIlroy explained: “People are looking at it purely from a monetary standpoint. I would like to be on the right side of history with this one, just sort of as Arnold [Palmer] was with the whole Greg Norman thing in the ’90s.
“Again, I value a lot of other things over money, and that’s sort of my stance on it at this point. I didn’t really like where the money was coming from either. I wanted to be the first one to speak out against it. I’m glad that I have. I’m glad that I’ve done that.”
