Rory McIlroy goes into detail about LIV Golf ‘regret’ and Jon Rahm’s Ryder Cup future

Rory McIlroy has expressed regret over his handling of the LIV Golf breakaway and emphasized the need for reunification in professional golf. Reflecting on his previous lack of “empathy” during the PGA Tour-LIV Golf conflict, McIlroy acknowledged he would have acted differently. As a leading voice against LIV, he often criticized players like Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau for joining the Saudi-backed league.

However, McIlroy’s perspective shifted following a “framework agreement” for a merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), which was negotiated without his knowledge a year ago. Now, McIlroy advocates for the professional game’s reunification, believing it will benefit everyone involved in golf.

Speaking on the Beyond The Clubhouse podcast ahead of The Memorial Tournament, McIlroy admitted he regrets his initial approach. He said, “Maybe putting so much into it and not really getting that much back in return. People are ultimately going to make decisions that they feel are best for themselves. I lacked the empathy to understand where people were coming from when they decided to go to LIV. Now, with a better perspective, I see the divide it created and hope we can come back together, which will be great for golf.”

The merger’s details between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PIF remain unresolved a year after the framework agreement, with multiple deadlines missed and PGA Tour Policy Board directors resigning out of frustration. McIlroy suggested a resolution by 2026 would be acceptable, noting, “These things take time and require compromises on both sides. If 2026 means we have a year and a half left of this and then things look different, that’s a pretty good timeline considering all the complexities involved.”

Jon Rahm’s future in the Ryder Cup has been uncertain since his move to LIV in December. Despite this, McIlroy is confident Rahm will be part of Luke Donald’s team at Bethpage Black in 2025. He asserted, “Absolutely. I don’t see a world where Jon Rahm isn’t on the Ryder Cup team. We need him; he’s great in the team room and everyone loves him. Especially at Bethpage, we need all the help we can get with the crowds.”