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Rory McIlroy opens door to PGA Tour comeback for certain LIV Golf players

Six-time major champion Rory McIlroy signaled his openness to allowing former LIV Golf players to rejoin the PGA Tour, a shift in stance that comes amid the Saudi-backed league’s financial restructuring. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi on October 13, 2026, McIlroy indicated he would support a vote to welcome back LIV defectors, framing their return as a potential commercial boon for the PGA Tour.

His remarks followed LIV Golf’s bankruptcy filing and its announced plans to reorganize for the 2027 season, after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrew its estimated $5 billion to $7 billion in backing earlier that year. While acknowledging resistance from existing PGA Tour members—particularly those who had opposed LIV’s recruitment of top players since its 2022 launch—McIlroy suggested tour leaders should balance commercial interests with member concerns before setting conditions for readmission.

He also criticized LIV’s financial mismanagement, arguing that closer collaboration with established golf organizations could have yielded better long-term results for the sport. The comments reflect a broader evolution in McIlroy’s position, having previously led opposition to LIV’s formation alongside Tiger Woods to prevent a split in professional golf’s competitive landscape.

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