Rory McIlroy says bringing back LIV Golf defectors would be “good business” for the PGA Tour amid doubts over the future of the breakaway series.
In April, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it will withdraw its multibillion dollar backing at the end of the year.
In response, LIV announced a “strategic evolution” – including a newly established independent board – as it bids to find replacement financial investors.
But Masters champion McIlroy, long a fierce critic of the series, has questioned its ability to find new backing, saying: “When one of the wealthiest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks that you’re too expensive for them, that sort of says something.”
Earlier this week, Bryson DeChambeau said he will focus on growing his YouTube channel and only “play tournaments that want me” if LIV does not survive.
“It’s a question if [players] do want to come back,” said McIlroy, speaking after carding a second-round four-under round of 67 to keep himself in contention at the Truist Championship.
“Obviously we have seen the quotes over the last few days. And, you know, it seems like it all depends on what happens to LIV.
“But if it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, you know, I think [PGA Tour chief executive] Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this Tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that.
“That’s just good business practice.”
The six-time major winner added: “I think everyone sort of knows my views on LIV and where it stands in the game of golf. I don’t think I need to rehash any of that.
“It’s never been for me and, look, it doesn’t mean that LIV is going to go away. They’re going to go and try and find alternative investment, whatever that may look like.”
DeChambeau, who joined LIV in 2022, turned down the chance to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year under a returning member programme.
It was a opportunity that five-time major champion Brooks Koepka took up, while Jon Rahm has struck a deal to continue playing on the DP World Tour and ended a “stand-off”.
Eight other players, including England’s Tyrrell Hatton, had already agreed terms with the DP World Tour to continue playing LIV events without incurring sanctions, and are required to play at least six events on the European tour.
“I was probably too judgemental with the guys that went [to LIV] because I was seeing it from my point of view and maybe not seeing it from other points of view,” said McIlroy.
“But again, I’m not going to judge anyone for not wanting to play on the PGA Tour.
“Does that mean that they go play DP World Tour maybe? If that’s a pathway, that would make the DP World Tour stronger, and I would be delighted with that, because that’s my home tour, at the end of the day.
“But if you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, [the PGA Tour] is the place to be. And if you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you.”