Rory McIlroy digs into LIV Golf regret and sheds light on Jon Rahm Ryder Cup chances
Rory McIlroy has opened up about his previous stance on the LIV Golf controversy, expressing remorse for not showing enough “empathy” towards fellow golfers during the divisive period. The golf star, who had been a vocal critic of the breakaway and its players, reflected on his actions before last week’s Canadian Open, admitting he might have approached the situation differently.
Previously acting as the PGA Tour’s unofficial voice against the LIV Golf series, McIlroy didn’t hold back in criticising the tour and those players, including big names like Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, who left for the lucrative Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf.
However, following a secret “framework agreement” for a potential merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) that was negotiated without his knowledge a year ago, McIlroy’s views have shifted. Now 35, he is advocating for the reunification of professional golf at the elite level.
On the Beyond The Clubhouse podcast, ahead of The Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village, McIlroy shared his reflections when probed about his early reactions to the schism within professional golf.
He quipped about perhaps investing too much emotionally without much return, saying, “Maybe putting so much into it and not really getting that much back in return.”
McIlroy acknowledged that individuals will make choices they believe are best for themselves, adding, “But I think people are going to do what they’re going to do. People are, ultimately going to make decisions that they feel is the best thing for themselves.
“For me, I maybe just didn’t have the empathy to understand where people were coming from whenever they decided to go to LIV. A couple of years down the line, I’ve got a better perspective on it.
“It’s created this divide in the game, which is unfortunate, but hopefully in the future, we can all come back together, which will be great for everyone involved in golf. We see it four times a year and I think we need to see it more times than that.”
