LIV Golf confirmed Thursday it will wind down operations and liquidate its assets, marking the end of a five-year saga that divided the sport.
In April, the Saudi Public Investment Fund ended its financial backing of the league after spending more than $5 billion getting it off the ground. That ultimately led LIV Golf to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a restructuring agreement with BC Partners, hoping to preserve the league and make players majority owners of a reorganized company. But Wednesday, BC Partners dropped its $300 million bid to fund LIV's 2027 season due to a lack of player commitment and financial demands from agents that couldn't be met.
Some of the biggest names in golf ― like Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and Tyrrell Hatton ― will no longer be a part of the now-defunct breakaway tour. Of course, that begs a major question: Will the PGA Tour work to allow those top players back?
Despite being one of LIV's fiercest opponents since the league's inception in 2021, Rory McIlroy said last month that he would vote to welcome some former LIV golfers back to the PGA Tour if the opportunity arose.
"Yes, I would," McIlroy said, speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in India on Oct. 13. "I think a rising tide lifts all boats, and I think having some of these players back is beneficial for the business of the [PGA and DP World] Tours, absolutely."
McIlroy never bothered to keep his feelings about LIV Golf secret, often making public comments about his disdain for it.
"LIV had probably half of a good idea that was executed pretty poorly," McIlroy said. "They had a lot of capital, but I think a lot of that capital was wasted in some ways, and I think they could've used that money a lot more strategically. They could've partnered with some of the governing bodies of the game. They certainly could've done better things with it, instead of just enriching tour pros that were already making a lot of money."
Speaking at the @Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, Rory says that LIV had "half of a good idea" and explains what he had to lose in the process (which led to him -- and Tiger -- being so against it). Says he would personally vote to allow LIV players back on the PGA Tour. pic.twitter.com/UPeoekaoGZ
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) October 13, 2026
McIlroy went on to say he and Tiger Woods were frustrated with the timing of LIV Golf's launch because it coincided with the duo's inception of the TGL. In order to compete in the TGL, players had to be members of the PGA Tour, meaning they had lost the opportunity to bring in several stars who had just left for LIV.
"Tiger and I, at the very start, back in 2022 when this whole thing kicked off, we were certainly the two that were maybe the most vocal against it, but we were probably the two that had the most to lose, as well, in terms of our stature within the PGA Tour. So, yes, I think we both felt that this wasn't good for the game and that this was going to fracture the game.
"Everyone has different interests in the game, and you're trying to protect your interests, but you're also trying to protect the interests of the game as a whole," McIlroy said.
But regardless of his personal feelings toward LIV and the players who jumped aboard its ship ― one that has sunk after a little more than four years ― McIlroy isn't opposed to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour tossing them a lifeline. After all, it'd be good for business. That said, he understands his opinion may not be shared by his many of his peers who likely turned down millions of dollars from LIV to stay with the PGA Tour.
"I think the thing that people have to realize is that the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour are both membership organizations, and the leadership of both those organizations need to go to the members and say to them, 'OK, what would you like to see?'" McIlroy said.
"On one hand, I'm sure some members that stayed loyal would feel hard done by if these guys can just walk straight back in, but then on the other side, having these players back on your tour is very good for business. That can drive revenues up and then everyone can benefit from that. So, there certainly is a balance there."
Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Should the PGA Tour bring former LIV golfers back? Here's what Rory McIlroy said last month
