Rory McIlroy Voices Regret Over How 'Deeply Involved' He Got In The LIV Golf vs. PGA Tour Battles

Published|Updated

We're approaching the one-year anniversary of the shocking announcement of the framework agreement between the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the PGA Tour. At that point in time, Rory McIlroy was the unofficial spokesperson of the Tour who wouldn't dare cast LIV Golf in anything even resembling a positive light.

Fast-forward to today, with the professional golf world still split, McIlroy regrets getting as involved as he did.

Speaking candidly ahead of this week's RBC Canadian Open, the same tournament that first followed the framework agreement announcement in June 2023, McIlroy reflected a bit on how he handled things a year ago.

"I think, in hindsight, I wish I hadn't have gotten involved or not hadn't gotten involved, hadn't have gotten as deeply involved in it, and I've articulated that," McIlroy explained. "I hold no grudge, I hold no resentment over the guys that chose to go and play on LIV. Everyone's got their own decisions to make and everyone is, has the right to make those decisions."

"My whole thing is I'm just disappointed to what it's done to, not to the game of golf, the game of golf will be fine, but men's professional golf and this sort of divide we have at the minute."

Rory McIlroy Sadly Admits 'Never Enough' Money To Keep PGA Tour Players Happy

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

McIlroy feeling a sense of regret about how firm of an anti-LIV stance he took should come as no surprise given the backpedaling he's done over the last six months or so.

McIlroy stepped down as player director on the PGA Tour policy board in November 2023, signaling his waving of the white flag in his fight against the Saudis and LIV.

While McIlroy conveniently changed his tune about players leaving for LIV Golf mere hours after Jon Rahm bolted from the PGA Tour, his comments from January presented a new perspective from the four-time major winner.

"I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the start, and I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realize that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Woods’ position," McIlroy said on the 'Stick To Football' podcast.

"We all turn professional to make a living playing the sports that we do, and I think that’s what I realized over the last two years. I can’t judge people for making that decision, so if I regret anything, it was probably being too judgmental at the start."

Discussions between the PGA Tour and the Saudi PIF are still ongoing, although they're continuing to crawl at a glacial pace.

Tags
Written by

Mark covers all sports at OutKick while keeping a close eye on the world of professional golf. He graduated from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga before earning his master's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee. He somehow survived living in Knoxville despite ‘Rocky Top’ being his least favorite song ever written. Before joining OutKick, he wrote for various outlets including SB Nation, The Spun, and BroBible. Mark was also a writer for the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate in 2016 when the team won the World Series. He's still waiting for his championship ring to arrive. Follow him on Twitter @itismarkharris.