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Rory McIlroy reveals how LIV Golf’s rise put him and Tiger Woods at risk

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods emerged as the most vocal critics of LIV Golf’s launch in 2022, framing their opposition as a defense of professional golf’s unity—and their own professional interests. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in October 2023, McIlroy explained that their stature within the PGA Tour made them particularly exposed to the risks of a fractured golf landscape.

The duo’s influence, built over years on the traditional circuit, clashed with LIV’s financial power and team-based format, which threatened to divert talent and dilute the PGA Tour’s player pool. Their joint venture, TGL—a technology-driven team league co-developed with the PGA Tour—further complicated the divide, as LIV’s defections (including Jon Rahm’s November 2023 switch) directly reduced the league’s available talent.

McIlroy’s remarks also underscore how LIV’s financial backing by Saudi Arabia reshaped professional golf’s economic landscape, pitting legacy stars against a rival circuit offering lucrative contracts and guaranteed income.

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