Who knows?”—Rory McIlroy teases a surprise move to LIV Golf in the midst of a shifting environment

“Who knows?”—Rory McIlroy teases a surprise move to LIV Golf in the midst of a shifting environment.

 

Rory McIlroy hinted at a possible bombshell: he might decide to join LIV Golf instead of continuing on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy firmly opposed the lucrative Saudi initiative, which enticed several elite players with enormous salaries and upended the PGA and European Tour’s established hierarchy.

 

Yet, the world number two, who even declared this summer that he would “rather retire” than turn into a LIV rebel, has tempered his views recently in light of Tyrell Hatton and Jon Rahm’s transfer from the PGA Tour to the Europe Ryder Cup.

 

Before the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, McIlroy’s former agent Chubby Chandler made the shocking assertion that the Northern Irishman would make a surprise switch to LIV Golf. The four-time major champion did not totally rule out the possibility.

 

Chandler estimated a 10% chance of switching, and when McIlroy was asked if he would place a percentage on his joining LIV Golf at a pre-tournament news conference, he said, “Maybe in the middle.” Who knows?

 

It appears that he is working on a book. I may have seen Chubby in the Middle East in the beginning of the year; we spoke.

 

“You never know. He may be somewhat knowledgeable. Who is to know?”

 

In the Dubai Invitational, McIlroy came in second to Tommy Fleetwood and went on to win the Dubai Desert Classic for a record-tying fourth time in 2024.

 

However, since joining the PGA Tour again this month, the 34-year-old’s journey has not been easy.

 

At the rain-soaked AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, McIlroy tied for 66th place; at the Genesis Invitational, he shared for 24th place.

 

Florida native McIlroy, who defeated Tiger Woods at this tournament in 2012 to win and take the top spot in the world rankings for the first time, said, “I feel like Pebble, the weather disrupted it and the courses were super soft.”

 

“I suppose it wasn’t all that horrible because I won the pro-am portion.

 

“Riviera Country Club, or Riv, was then rather decent. I felt like I played some really decent golf the first day, but for a disaster on holes 15 and 16.

 

“I think I’m in really good shape as a player. It’s pleasant to spend this week at home and, let’s face it, feel a little more at ease.”

 

The 24-time winner of the PGA Tour, McIlroy, continued, “I guess it comes down to wins and season-long titles and major championships.”

 

“I can’t claim that because I haven’t won a major that the past ten seasons haven’t been good.

 

“Yet, I also understand that I will be heavily evaluated based on those competitions when all is said and done.

 

“Winning is always a positive thing, hopefully among other things as well. It’sš great if you can win more games.”