Rory McIlroy has voiced the view that a number of golfers currently contracted with LIV Golf are likely to look for alternatives outside the rebel circuit, especially after the organization disclosed that it had entered bankruptcy protection. The Irish star raised questions about the attractiveness of the league's newly proposed format, known as LIV 2.0, which is being developed in partnership with a fresh lead investor, BC Partners.
On Tuesday, LIV Golf announced that it was collaborating with BC Partners to overhaul the competition and launch a revamped version next year. As part of that plan, the league filed for Chapter 11‑style protection in a New Jersey court, a move intended to give it breathing room while it restructures its finances and business model.
The filing follows a public statement from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in April, indicating that the sovereign wealth fund would cease its financial support for the league after the 2026 season. Over the five‑year life of the venture, the PIF is reported to have poured roughly $5 billion (about £3.6 billion) into the project, a sum that has sparked intense debate within the golf community. According to Sky News sources, players who have signed on with LIV Golf are currently in talks with league officials about whether they will honour their contracts through to 2027 or opt to walk away. High‑profile names such as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau have been deliberately vague about their long‑term plans.
Rahm, however, told reporters on Tuesday that he holds a contract with LIV Golf that he is "more than willing to fulfil," suggesting that at least some of the league’s marquee talent remains committed for the short term. McIlroy, who has previously warned that returning to the DP World Tour or PGA Tour could be a "tough road back" for former LIV players, added on Wednesday that the eventual migration of those players could actually benefit the traditional tours by raising the level of competition. "I'm not in their shoes, but LIV 1.0 at the start looked a lot more attractive than what LIV 2.0 might be from a financial standpoint," he said ahead of the Amgen Irish Open. "I'm not trying to predict the future, but I would predict that you'll see some guys leave LIV Golf.
That means other tours have decisions to make. Obviously there's a lot of players on LIV that can strengthen golf tournaments and make them more competitive. So I would see that as a good thing for the DP World Tour." The Amgen Irish Open will feature both Rahm and his Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton, who are also slated to compete in next week’s BMW PGA Championship.
McIlroy believes that the inclusion of former LIV players will ultimately make the DP World Tour stronger. "The health of the DP World Tour is in a really good spot," he continued.
"They have a wonderful alliance with the PGA Tour. I think that alliance is only going to get stronger, especially with the PGA Tour committing to working with the DP World Tour for some of these international events at this time of the year going forward. So you have PGA Tour players really with nothing to do for five months in this period. If whoever else is incorporated into these tournaments, that makes them more competitive.
Overall, with the way things are working out, it's a very good thing for the golf ecosystem. It only makes these tournaments stronger with more competitive players in them." Looking ahead to the 2027 Ryder Cup, which will be hosted at Adare Manor in Ireland, European captain Luke Donald acknowledged that there remains considerable ambiguity about which LIV Golf players will stay on the rebel circuit and which might return to the traditional tours. Donald suggested that the prestige and selection criteria of the Ryder Cup could be a decisive factor for many players.
"There's still some uncertainty," he said. "Time will tell to see where those guys land. Obviously, you want your best players available, and you want them playing as many counting events as possible.
You set your qualification system to try and determine who those top six guys are, and the more someone like a Jon Rahm or Tyrrell Hatton, if they are playing more events on the DP World Tour, they are going to have a better opportunity to fill one of those top six. So that's obviously great. If not, we'll see what happens. But I don't really determine their schedules or where they play.
But I know a lot of these guys, the Ryder Cup is high up on their priority list. So I'm sure they will be thinking about that." The broader implications of a potential exodus from LIV Golf extend beyond individual career choices.
The traditional tours have been grappling with how to integrate players who have earned sizable sums in a league that has been both praised for its innovation and criticized for its financial model and ties to Saudi interests. If a wave of players does decide to leave, the DP World Tour and PGA Tour could see a surge in star power, which may translate into higher television ratings, larger sponsorship deals, and more robust prize funds. Conversely, the departure of top talent could also diminish the marketability of LIV Golf, making it harder for the league to attract new investors or secure broadcast agreements.
Broadcast partners are already positioning themselves for the upcoming season. Sky Sports will air all four rounds of the Amgen Irish Open, with the first round kicking off at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday on Sky Sports Golf, followed by live coverage of the remaining three days on Sky Sports+.
Additional sessions on Friday will begin at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., while weekend action starts at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The network also plans to continue its coverage after the conclusion of the Solheim Cup, offering viewers a seamless golf viewing experience across multiple events. For fans seeking to watch the tournament without a traditional contract, the streaming service NOW offers a no‑contract option that includes live golf coverage. Meanwhile, golf enthusiasts looking to play the sport themselves can browse and book tee times at more than 1,700 courses throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland through various online platforms.
In summary, McIlroy’s comments reflect a growing consensus that the future of LIV Golf is uncertain, and that many players may ultimately decide that the stability, heritage, and competitive depth of the DP World Tour and PGA Tour provide a more attractive long‑term proposition. As the league works through its bankruptcy filing and prepares for a LIV 2.0 launch, the next few months will be critical in determining whether the rebel circuit can retain its current roster or whether a significant migration back to the established tours will reshape the professional golf landscape.