Rory McIlroy says bringing back LIV Golf defectors would be “good business” for the PGA Tour amid doubts about the future of the LIV Golf Series.
In April, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced it would withdraw billions of dollars in support at the end of the year.
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In response, LIV announced a “strategic evolution” – including a new independent board of directors – to seek alternative financial investors.
But Masters champion McIlroy has long been a fierce critic of the series, questioning its ability to find new support, saying: “When one of the richest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks you’re too expensive for them, that says something.”
Earlier this week, Bryson DeChambeau said that if LIV doesn’t survive, he will focus on growing his YouTube channel and only play “games that require me.”
“It’s a question if [players] “I do want to come back,” McIlroy said after shooting a 4-under 67 in the second round to stay competitive at the Truist Championship.
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“Obviously, we’ve seen those offers over the past few days. And, you know, it seems to be all dependent on what happens with LIV.
“But if they had the option to come back and play the Heritage Tour, you know, I think [PGA Tour chief executive] Brian Rolup said anything that can make this tour stronger, anything that can make the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that.
“It’s just good business practice.”
The six-time major champion added: “I think everyone knows what I think about LIV and its place in the game of golf. I don’t think I need to repeat anything.
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“That’s never been the case for me, and, look, that doesn’t mean LIV is going to go away. They’re going to try to find alternative investments, whatever they may be.”
DeChambeau, who will join LIV in 2022, earlier this year turned down an opportunity to return to the PGA Tour under the Returning Membership Program.
Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka jumped at the chance, while Jon Rahm struck a deal to remain on the DP World Tour and ended the “stalemate.”
Eight other players, including England’s Tyrrell Hatton, have reached agreements with the DP World Tour to continue competing in LIV events without sanction and are required to compete in at least six events on the European Tour.
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“I’m probably too judgmental of people who go [to LIV] Because I’m looking at it from my own perspective and maybe not looking at it from other perspectives,” McIlroy said.
“But I’m not going to judge anyone for not wanting to play on the PGA Tour.
“Does that mean they might go to the DP World Tour? If that’s a route, that would make the DP World Tour stronger and I’d be happy about that because at the end of the day, that’s my home tour.
“But if you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, [the PGA Tour] This is where you should go. If you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you. “