Rory McIlroy has voiced the view that a number of golfers currently under contract with LIV Golf are likely to look for opportunities outside the breakaway circuit, especially now that the organization has entered bankruptcy protection and is planning a major restructuring. McIlroy, one of the sport's most prominent figures, questioned the attractiveness of the revamped LIV format – now being billed as LIV 2.0 – after the league announced it would work with its new principal investor, BC Partners, to overhaul its financial and operational model and relaunch next season. The bankruptcy filing took place in a New Jersey court and is part of a broader effort to reset the league’s finances after the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia signaled in April that it would cease funding the venture at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
Over the past five years, since LIV Golf was launched in 2021, the league has reportedly spent roughly $5 billion (about £3.6 billion), a sum that has raised eyebrows among traditional golf stakeholders and fans alike. According to Sky News, LIV Golf players are currently in talks with league officials about whether they will extend their contracts through 2027 or walk away. Some of the biggest 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," indicating at least a short‑term commitment despite the uncertainty surrounding the league’s future. McIlroy has previously warned that returning to the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour could be a "tough road back" for players who have defected to LIV Golf, but he also suggested that the presence of former LIV players could ultimately make those established tours more competitive. Speaking ahead of the Amgen Irish Open, McIlroy said, "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.
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." Both Rahm and his Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton are slated to compete at the Irish Open and will also appear at next week's BMW PGA Championship, underscoring that many of the league's top players are still participating in traditional events while their contractual status remains in flux.
McIlroy added that the inclusion of former LIV players would likely bolster the DP World Tour's depth and appeal. "The health of the DP World Tour is in a really good spot," he said. "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 players will continue to align with LIV Golf.
Donald noted that the prestige and personal importance of the Ryder Cup could be a decisive factor for many. "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 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 context of this discussion is the ongoing battle for talent and legitimacy between the traditional tours and the breakaway league.
Since its inception, LIV Golf has attracted high‑profile players with lucrative contracts, but its financial model has been heavily dependent on sovereign wealth fund backing. The recent withdrawal of that funding has forced the league to confront the reality that its long‑term sustainability may require a different revenue structure, potentially involving more media rights deals, sponsorships, and a revised prize‑money distribution. For the players, the decision to stay with LIV Golf or return to the established tours hinges on several factors: the certainty of future earnings, the ability to compete in major championships, world‑ranking points, and the chance to represent their continent or country in team events like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. While some, like Rahm, have indicated a willingness to honour existing contracts, others may view the upcoming restructuring as an opportunity to renegotiate or to seek more stable environments.
Broadcast partners are also watching closely. Sky Sports has confirmed that it will air all four rounds of the Amgen Irish Open, with coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday on Sky Sports Golf and the remaining days streaming live on Sky Sports+. Additional sessions are scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m.
and 3 p.m., with weekend coverage at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The network also highlighted that the Solheim Cup will be followed by continued golf coverage, and that viewers can access live streams via NOW without a contract.
In summary, McIlroy’s comments reflect a broader industry expectation that the destabilisation of LIV Golf’s original financial backing will trigger a wave of player movement. Whether this results in a net gain for the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, or leads to further fragmentation of the professional golf landscape, remains to be seen. What is clear is that the upcoming years will be pivotal in shaping the future of elite golf, as tours, players, and investors all navigate an evolving competitive environment.