Rory McIlroy says LIV Golf was 'half a good idea that was executed poorly' but would welcome players back to DP World Tour

14.10.2026, 14:19 skysports.com

Rory McIlroy believes LIV Golf was "half a good idea, executed poorly" and the breakaway is no longer a threat to the traditional game as it tries to relaunch after filing for bankruptcy.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) ploughed in £3.7bn over four years, luring the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau away from the PGA Tour, before withdrawing its support this year.

That led to Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States with a view to relaunching as LIV 2.0, having received a potential $300m (£227m) backing from BC Partners Capital providing a specified number of players re-sign for the new venture.

Rahm has already announced he will not be continuing and news this week that any player signing up for LIV will be barred from DP World Tour membership and Ryder Cup eligibility has delivered a crippling blow.

"LIV had probably like, half of a good idea that was executed pretty poorly," McIlroy told the Bloomberg New Economy forum in New Delhi, where he is playing this week in the DP World India Championship.

"They had a lot of capital but I think a lot of that capital was wasted in some ways and I think they could have used that money a lot more strategically and could have partnered with some of the governing bodies of the game and certainly could have done better things with it instead of just enriching tour pros who were already making a lot of money.

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"BC Partners have come in and seen an opportunity (but) it looks like every day that goes by there's another player that was on LIV who is not going to join LIV 2.0 so I think it is going to be very difficult to get out of this Chapter 11 bankruptcy and go forward.

"But if they do it is certainly not going to be a threat to the traditional order of the game as it once was."

A more pertinent issue now seems to be what happens to those players quitting LIV.

The PGA Tour invokes a one-year suspension, denying them access until August next year, and while the DP World Tour has stiffened its rules its membership remains divided.

"I'm sure some members who stayed loyal would feel hard done by if these guys can just walk straight back in but, on the other side, having these players back on the tour is good for business and it can drive revenues up and everyone can benefit from that," added McIlroy.

"I would vote for them to come back. A rising tide lifts all boats and I think having some of these players back is beneficial for the business of the tours."

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However, is not a view shared by six-time DP World Tour winner Joost Luiten.

"Four years ago they didn't give a s*** about the DP World Tour," he told Today's Golfer.

"They made a decision to go after the money and now all of a sudden, the money is gone and they want to come back and act like nothing happened. I don't think that's right.

"If they think they are that good then show it at Q-School (qualifying school) and beat the guys. That's how every other guy that wants to play on this tour has to go."

Speaking ahead of the DP World India Championship, McIlroy further explained that he thinks the rule change is a sound one from the DP World Tour to protect their business.

Now, it is for players to decide what is "important" to them for how their golfing career looks moving forward.

"You can still be a member of the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour," he said.

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"We as the DP World Tour are a members' organisation, just as the PGA TOUR is the members' organisation. Every year before you play your first event you sign up to abide by the rules and regulations of that members' organisation.

"Everyone that plays on those tours does the exact same thing. This isn't new information. Everyone does that every year.

"The leadership or the management of those membership organisations, they have the right to change and adapt the rules and regulations where they see fit to protect their business or their rights. This is what the DP World Tour are doing.

"I think with the way the golf landscape is, I know the PGA TOUR and the DP World Tour are working really hard to find a suitable landing to continue with the strategic alliance.

"I think the DP World Tour have been more than accommodating to LIV players. Yes, they've had to maybe do some things that have been conditional to their membership, like play a couple extra events this year, but I think this was always coming down the line.

"I think the DP World Tour have made a good decision, because the golf landscape, I feel like it's been constantly changing for the last four, five years.

"It's now got to the point where guys are going to have to make a decision and what's important to them and what they really want to do.

"As I said, the DP World Tour are well within their rights to change the rules and regulations. This is the way to protect their business and to make the tour as strong as possible."

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