Rory McIlroy has given one of his most in-depth interviews yet regarding the emergence of LIV Golf.
Rory McIlroy has given his most wide-ranging interview yet on the emergence of LIV Golf on the sporting landscape and the Saudi Arabian threat to the PGA Tour.
Since its inception, LIV Golf has looked to steal a large share of the golfing pie from the PGA, with McIlroy standing as one of the most vocal speakers against the Saudi-backed endeavour.
As the months have passed, an increasing number of professional golfers have switched tours for reportedly staggering sums of money in the hundreds of millions.
Now that negotiations between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour are still ongoing in hopes of reaching a final agreement, McIlroy has conceded that both organizations need to find a means to cooperate and that he might have been overly critical.
The Northern Irishman appeared on the Sky Bet-produced Stick to Football Podcast with former football professionals Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher, and Gary Neville.
Following his close friend and Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm’s reported £450 million defection to the breakaway tour, McIlroy has made the decision to voice his opinions on the ongoing conflict once more.
“I think at this point, 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 Wood’s position,” McIlroy said in response to the most recent developments.
Over the past two years, I believe I’ve come to the realization that all athletes become professionals in order to support themselves through their passions.
“It was probably being too judgmental at the beginning, but I can’t judge people for making that decision.”
Alongside the living legend Woods, McIlroy has been working hard to launch his own golf venture, which they are calling The Golf League (TGL) in association with the PGA.
However, having a golf side business in addition to the PGA Tour won’t stop other players from giving in to the allure of LIV, especially if there is significant financial reward.
McIlroy continued, saying, “I’ve spent the last two years viewing the world through an altruistic lens, seeing it as I wanted to see it.
In the end, you can say and do whatever you want, but you will never be able to influence other people’s opinions. You can never force them to make a decision based solely on your words.
“I have accepted that this is now a part of our sport, but I wouldn’t say that I’ve lost the fight against LIV.”
