Rory McIlroy doesn’t believe LIV will ever 'sign anyone who moves the needle'
Ross Kinnaird
Rory McIlroy is pleased to have Brooks Koepka back on his side. He knows it helps strengthen the PGA Tour while also depleting the biggest competition, LIV Golf.
The PGA Tour made the decision last week to let Koepka back on the tour early because of a newly-created Returning Member Program and he’s expected to be playing in both the Farmers Insurance Open and WM Phoenix Open. Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith were all eligible to return under the new policy but all opted to remain with LIV.
Anthony Kim earned his LIV Golf spot back last week via its promotions event. Thomas Detry and Ben An have announced recently that they left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf this season. Elvis Smylie, Viktor Perez and Laurie Canter have joined the league. Dustin Johnson also signed an extension.
Speaking to The Telegraph of London on Thursday, however, McIlroy did not hold back.
“It’s not as if they made any huge signings this year, is it,” he told the publication. “They haven’t signed anyone who moves the needle, and I don’t think they will. I mean, they could re-sign Bryson for hundreds of millions of dollars, but even if they do, it doesn’t change their product, does it? They’ll just be paying for the exact same thing.”
DeChambeau has one more year remaining on his LIV Golf contract, and there have been reports that he’s trying to renegotiate that early for a hefty price, especially now that Koepka has left LIV. How much exactly does he want? Would he jump back to the PGA Tour then? Would he be content to just play in major championships and focus on YouTube golf? All answers are completely up in the air.
Reports have said that LIV Golf has spent close to $6 billion in the first four years, and McIlroy’s point is that now, without the five-time major champion Koepka, they’ll have to spend at least that just to maintain its position.
“This is great as it gets Brooks back to where he belongs,” McIlroy told The Telegraph. “As ever time will tell with all this, but I’m so happy to be with the PGA Tour. I like where everything’s going and I like where the game is.”
McIlroy has already started his season on the DP World Tour. He shot five-under 66 Thursday at Dubai Creek Resort to lead the Dubai Invitational. He made seven birdies and leads David Puig and Connor Syme by one shot.