Rory McIlroy makes major concession about LIV Golf

When the No. 2-ranked golfer in the world has something to say, people listen. And for years now, they’ve listened to Rory McIlroy lambast LIV, the Saudi-backed golf league that came to prominence in 2021.   

“There’s no room in the golf world for LIV Golf,” McIlroy said in 2022. “I don’t agree with what LIV is doing. If LIV went away tomorrow, I’d be super happy.” 

Even when the PGA inevitably merged with LIV, McIlroy didn’t hold back on his feelings. “I still hate LIV. Like, I hate LIV. Like, I hope it goes away. And I would fully expect that it does.” He also said he’d just as soon retire instead of playing for the league.

McIlroy opposed LIV for ethical reasons, and he also believed players were “taking the easy way out” by thinking about dollar signs instead of history, via ESPN. 

“The PGA Tour was created by people and tour players that came before us, the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer,” he said. “They created something and worked hard for something, and I hate to see all the players that came before us and all the hard work that they've put in just come out to be nothing.”

Now, however, McIlroy has softened his stance on LIV, or, more specifically, on the players who decided to defect, via ESPN and Reuters. “We all turn professional to make a living playing the sports that we do,” he said, “and I think that's what I realized over the last two years. I can't judge people for making that decision.”

So, why the change of heart? McIlroy appears to see the writing on the wall when it comes to the green — and not the part of the course golfers aim for:

“Competition is good to help improve the sport of golf overall, but the PGA Tour competing with LIV and the Saudis' money is completely unsustainable,” he said. “You're never going to win a fight if you're going money for money, because we've seen that in other sports where no one is spending money like the Saudis.”

It’s also possible that McIlroy understands that if he wants to keep playing — and making his own green — it may not be the wisest idea to bite the hand that could eventually feed him. Above all, perhaps he’s just tired of fighting and would rather spend his time and effort focused on actually playing golf instead of the people holding the purse strings.