London-Based Newspaper Reports Rory McIlroy Close To $850M LIV Golf Deal

Rory McIlroy, arguably the PGA Tour's biggest defender since the invention of LIV Golf, could make the most improbable move in sports history. 

According to a London-based newspaper, City A.M., McIlroy is close to an $850 million deal to leave the PGA Tour and join LIV Golf. 

There have been rumors in recent months that McIlroy has talked to LIV Golf. After initially coming out staunchly against the Saudi-backed golf circuit, McIlroy softened his stance recently. 

Perhaps the defection of Ryder Cup teammate and fellow European golf star, Jon Rahm, changed his view. 

Remember, this is just a report from one newspaper. There's no guarantee that this will happen. Additionally, they are reporting that the deal is "close." Deals fall apart. Plus, McIlroy might just want the news out there to see what the reaction would look like. 

A report from a London newspaper, City A.M., says that Rory McIlroy is close to leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf for $850M.

(Michael Madrid/USA TODAY Sports)

Still, it's quite a fascinating report. If LIV Golf is really willing to give McIlroy nearly $1 billion, that's hard to turn down, even if McIlroy isn't hard up for cash. 

But as OutKick's Mark Harris wrote in February, McIlroy's former agent already said a LIV Golf move wouldn't surprise him. 

From Harris' story: 

Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler was McIlroy's agent when he first turned professional and recently explained that it's long been part of his former client's personality to share an opinion and then apologize for it when reality changes.

"It’s typical Rory, Rory is not shy in having an opinion and not slow to apologize if he’s got that wrong," Chandler told Bunkered. "When he turned pro in 2008 we were sat on a bench at Gleneagles and I had Rory telling me that the Ryder Cup meant nothing at all to him. ‘It was just an exhibition match. I’m here to win majors.’ There’s nobody bigger into the Ryder Cup now than Rory McIlroy."

That said, in March, McIlroy stated emphatically that he didn't plan to join LIV Golf. 

"It’s not for me," McIlroy told ESPN last month. "I’m too much of a traditionalist. I’m steeped in the…I love winning golf tournaments and looking at the trophy and seeing Sam Snead won this trophy, or Ben Hogan or Gene Sarazen or Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods or Nick Faldo – whoever it is – the people that came before me. That, to me, is a big deal in our game."

If he bolted to LIV Golf for the cash and left the PGA Tour behind, it would be one of the biggest "about-faces" in the history of sports. Stay tuned.