Rory McIlroy has never been shy about where he stands when it comes to LIV Golf - and with Brooks Koepka making his return to the PGA Tour, McIlroy isn’t holding back.
Koepka’s exit from the Saudi-backed league and return to the PGA Tour marked a significant shift in the ongoing tug-of-war between the two tours. For McIlroy, it was more than just a roster move - it was a symbolic win. And he made that clear with a pointed jab at LIV Golf’s lack of momentum.
“It’s not as if they made any huge signings this year, is it?” McIlroy said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.
“They haven’t signed anyone who moves the needle and I don’t think they will. I mean, they could re-sign Bryson (DeChambeau) 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. And they’ve lost Brooks.”
That last line hits hard. Koepka wasn’t just another name on LIV’s roster - he was one of the faces of the league, a multi-time major winner with a big-game reputation. Losing him, in McIlroy’s eyes, isn’t just a blow to LIV’s credibility - it’s a sign that the tide may be turning.
McIlroy’s criticism of LIV has always gone beyond dollars and contracts. He’s long emphasized the value of legacy, tradition, and competition - the things he believes the PGA Tour still represents. And with Koepka now back in the fold, McIlroy sees an opportunity to reunite golf’s top stars under one roof, especially when it comes to the majors and the Ryder Cup.
Speaking on The Overlap podcast, McIlroy said he’s open to more top players returning to the PGA Tour - even those who initially made the jump to LIV. But he didn’t ignore the reality of what those moves cost them.
“They’ve made the money but they’ve paid their consequences in terms of their reputation and some of the things they have lost by going over there,” McIlroy said.
Still, he’s not taking a hardline stance. McIlroy acknowledged that if players like DeChambeau or others were to come back and it ultimately made the tour stronger, he’d be on board - but emphasized that it’s not just his call.
“It would be up to the collective group of PGA Tour members to make that decision,” he added.
That’s a key point. McIlroy may be one of the most influential voices in golf, but he’s also aware that the future of the tour isn’t a one-man decision. The locker room has to be aligned, especially after such a divisive stretch in the sport.
Time will tell if Koepka’s move is the start of a larger trend or just a one-off. But for now, McIlroy is celebrating the return of a major talent - and taking a not-so-subtle victory lap in the ongoing battle for golf’s future.