Rory McIlroy has suggested that a number of golfers currently under contract with LIV Golf could soon look for opportunities beyond the fledgling circuit, especially after the league disclosed that it had entered bankruptcy protection to facilitate a restructuring. The Irish star explained that the original appeal of LIV Golf – which debuted in 2021 with a massive infusion of capital from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – may not be as compelling once the organization transitions to a revised format known as LIV 2.0.
On Tuesday, LIV Golf announced a partnership with its new lead investor, BC Partners, to overhaul the product and relaunch a second‑generation league next season. As part of that plan, the organization filed for Chapter 11 protection in a New Jersey court, a move designed to give it breathing room while it negotiates a fresh financial structure. The filing follows a public statement from the Public Investment Fund in April indicating that it would cease its funding commitment at the close of the 2026 season, after having spent roughly $5 billion (about £3.6 billion) over the first five years of the venture. According to Sky News, many of the players on LIV’s roster are presently in talks with the league about whether they will honor their contracts through 2027 or walk away.
High‑profile names such as Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau have remained tight‑lipped about their long‑term plans, although Rahm told reporters on Tuesday that he possesses a contract with LIV and is "more than willing to fulfil" it. McIlroy, who has previously warned that returning to the DP World Tour or PGA Tour could be a "tough road back" for former LIV members, added that the presence of those players would ultimately raise the competitive level of the traditional tours. "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," McIlroy 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." Both Rahm and his Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton are slated to compete at the Irish Open and will also appear in next week’s BMW PGA Championship. McIlroy believes that the eventual migration of LIV talent into the established tours will reinforce the DP World Tour’s health.
"The health of the DP World Tour is in a really good spot," he noted. "They have a wonderful alliance with the PGA Tour, and that partnership is only going to get stronger, especially as the PGA Tour commits to collaborating on international events during this part of the calendar year." He continued, "So you have PGA Tour players with essentially a five‑month lull in their schedule.
If you incorporate other high‑calibre players into those tournaments, they become more competitive. Overall, the way things are shaping up is very positive for the golf ecosystem; stronger fields mean more compelling events for fans and sponsors alike." Looking ahead to the 2027 Ryder Cup, which will be hosted at Adare Manor in Ireland, European captain Luke Donald acknowledged that there remains uncertainty about which LIV golfers will stay on the circuit. However, he suggested that the prestige of representing Europe in the Ryder Cup could be a decisive factor for many. "There's still some uncertainty," Donald said.
"Time will tell where those guys land. Obviously you want your best players available and playing as many counting events as possible. If someone like Jon Rahm or Tyrrell Hatton plays more DP World Tour events, they have a better chance of qualifying for the top six spots that feed into the Ryder Cup team." Donald added that while he cannot control individual schedules, the Ryder Cup sits high on most players' priority lists, and that will likely influence their decisions. "If not, we'll see what happens.
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," he said. The Amgen Irish Open will be broadcast live across all four rounds by Sky Sports.
Coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday on Sky Sports Golf, with the remaining three days streamed on Sky Sports+.
Friday’s sessions start at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday action kicks off at 2:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively. Fans can also follow the tournament via NOW, which offers a contract‑free streaming option.
Beyond the immediate tournament coverage, the broader story reflects a pivotal moment in professional golf. The original LIV model, built on a promise of massive payouts and a reimagined event format, has faced mounting financial scrutiny as its primary backer scales back support. The bankruptcy filing signals a willingness to restructure rather than abandon the concept entirely, but it also underscores the fragility of a venture that relies heavily on a single source of capital. For players, the situation presents a strategic crossroads.
Those who signed lucrative deals with LIV must weigh the security of those contracts against the long‑term benefits of playing on established tours that offer world‑ranking points, major championship eligibility, and a more predictable schedule. For the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, the potential influx of former LIV talent could boost prize funds, attract new sponsors, and increase global viewership, but it also raises questions about how to integrate players who may have been absent from the traditional ranking system for several years. In summary, McIlroy’s forecast that some LIV Golf players will depart is grounded in the financial realities of the league’s restructuring and the enduring allure of the historic tours.
As negotiations continue and the 2027 Ryder Cup approaches, the golf world will watch closely to see how many of the league’s stars choose to return to the mainstream circuit, thereby reshaping the competitive landscape for years to come.