Rory McIlroy isn't convinced that LIV Golf players returning to the PGA Tour would bring much value to the sport. Speaking ahead of this week's BMW Championship, McIlroy was asked about the possibility of LIV players coming back and responded by questioning whether they had even brought value to LIV Golf itself.
McIlroy's comments come as LIV Golf faces significant uncertainty following the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund's decision to withdraw its backing. LIV's season-ending team championship was canceled, and the league is now working to secure new investment and determine its future.
The possibility of players returning to the PGA Tour has become a major storyline. Brooks Koepka already returned earlier this year through the Tour's Returning Member Program, while players such as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau have been mentioned amid speculation about LIV's future. McIlroy believes the road back shouldn't be easy, particularly for players who chose to leave the PGA Tour in the first place.
McIlroy's comments also come after he openly criticized DeChambeau's actions at this year's Open Championship. McIlroy called DeChambeau's behavior surrounding his two-shot penalty “performative” and said it was largely done for attention, making it clear that there is still plenty of tension between the two.
Scottie Scheffler offered a different perspective, saying he isn't opposed to LIV players returning because having the best players competing against each other is good for golf. McIlroy, however, appears far less interested in simply welcoming everyone back, setting up another interesting divide between two of the game's biggest stars.
