McIlroy Calls LIV Golf 'Half a Good Idea, Executed Poorly'

Rory McIlroy isn't pulling punches on LIV Golf. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy forum in New Delhi ahead of the DP World India Championship, the Northern Irishman delivered a blunt verdict on the Saudi-backed breakaway — and it wasn't flattering.

'Half a Good Idea' That Burned Through Billions

McIlroy's assessment, according to Sky Sports, was surgical. He acknowledged LIV had the seed of something workable but argued the execution was a mess from the jump. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund pumped in roughly £3.7 billion over four years — luring big names like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau away from the PGA Tour — before pulling the plug entirely this year.

"They had a lot of capital but I think a lot of that capital was wasted," McIlroy said. He suggested the money could have been deployed far more intelligently — partnering with golf's governing bodies rather than simply writing enormous checks to players who were already wealthy.

It's a fair critique. LIV essentially paid a premium to create a rival product without building the infrastructure, broadcast footprint, or competitive credibility to sustain it.

Bankruptcy and a Rocky Road to LIV 2.0

With PIF's backing gone, LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States. BC Partners Capital is circling with a potential $300 million lifeline — but only if enough players re-sign for the relaunched venture. That's proving harder than expected.

Rahm has already confirmed he won't be part of LIV 2.0. The bigger gut punch came this week when the DP World Tour announced that any player committing to LIV will be barred from tour membership and Ryder Cup eligibility heading into 2027. That's a steep price, and it appears to be accelerating the exodus.

McIlroy sees the writing on the wall. "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," he said. Even if the relaunch somehow clears the bankruptcy hurdle, he's clear on one thing — it won't threaten the game's traditional power structure the way it once did.

McIlroy Wants the Defectors Back

Now the real question: what happens to the players walking away from LIV?

The PGA Tour has a one-year suspension in place, keeping them locked out until at least August 2026. The DP World Tour's rules are tightening too, though its membership is split on how hard to play hardball.

McIlroy, who has been one of the most vocal defenders of the established tour system throughout this saga — holding his competitive focus steady even as the politics swirled — surprisingly lands on the welcoming side of the debate when it comes to reintegration.

"I would vote for them to come back," he said flatly. "A rising tide lifts all boats." His logic is straightforward: returning star players drive revenues up, and everybody benefits from a healthier competitive ecosystem.

Not Everyone Is Feeling Generous

Not all his peers agree. Dutch veteran Joost Luiten, a six-time DP World Tour winner, had a much colder take. He pointed out that LIV players abandoned the DP World Tour without a second thought when the Saudi money came calling, and now expect a warm welcome with the cash gone.

"Four years ago they didn't give a s*** about the DP World Tour," Luiten said bluntly. He'd rather see returning players earn their spots back through qualifying school like everyone else does — no shortcuts, no special treatment.

It's a tension that won't resolve itself quickly. The tours will have to decide whether pragmatism or principle wins out — and those two things rarely point in the same direction.

For McIlroy, who has channeled his energy into his own game throughout this era of golf politics, the priority is clear: a stronger tour is better for everyone, even if getting there means forgiving some uncomfortable choices.

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