Rory McIlroy’s savage dig at LIV Golf stars who could try to crawl back to PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy isn’t above kicking LIV Golf while they’re down.

A staunch critic of the rebel tour since the get-go, McIlroy couldn’t resist twisting the knife on Wednesday when asked about the value some of LIV’s stars could bring to the PGA Tour and whether they should be allowed back with LIV Golf in peril.

“I’d argue, have they brought value to LIV?” McIlroy said ahead of this week’s BMW Championship. “I think the PGA Tour’s in a really good spot.”

Rory McIlroy plays a practice shot ahead of the BMW Championship in St. Louis on Aug. 19, 2026. PGA TOUR

While LIV has secured a new investor after the Saudi Public Investment Fund pulled their funding, the future of the tour — if it is able to survive — reportedly will involve fewer events and smaller purses.

LIV canceled their season-ending team championships and instead will end their season this weekend in Indianapolis. And the purse for the final event has been slashed from $20 million to $10.1 million, with the winner set to receive $2 million instead of $4 million.

Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau are the biggest names who could add star power to the PGA Tour. LIV reportedly fears that Rahm is on his way out, while DeChambeau, whose contract is expiring, has been publicly backing LIV and simultaneously teasing becoming a full-time YouTuber.

Captain Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC hits from the 16th tee during the first round of LIV Golf Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club on Thursday, August 6, 2026. AP

Brooks Koepka left LIV to return to the PGA Tour this year as part of a temporary pathway, but had to forfeit five years equity from the Tour’s Player Equity Program.

“Eventually, yeah, maybe,” McIlroy said, per Golfweek, on if it’d be helpful for the Tour’s TV negotiations to have all the sport’s best players in the fold. “I’m not part of these discussions, but I’m pretty sure they’re not going to be welcomed back straight away. If they were offered this returning member program back in February, the one that Brooks took, then, yeah, maybe. But that has sort of come and gone. And I think it was said at the time that the deal that they might get going forward, if they do decide to come back, isn’t going to be as good as the one that Brooks got. So, yeah, I would say it’s going to be a tough, tough road back.”

Jon Rahm plays his tee shot on the 12th hole during day two of LIV Golf New York at Trump National Golf Club on Friday, August 7, 2026. Getty Images

Scottie Scheffler, who cruised to a victory at the St. Jude last week in the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, wants penalties for LIV defectors who wish to return to the PGA Tour, but would welcome them back.

“Getting the best players competing against each other more often is I think what everybody wants,” Scheffler said. “When we talk about the best players, you know, LIV has a few players that are really good. I think the depth that we have on our Tour is bit unmatched, but I think when you look at the higher levels of LIV Golf there’s definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the Tour, and guys that I love competing against as well.”

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