McIlroy walks back LIV criticism, says would play IPL-style event

By Rahul Banerji

In a massive somersault, LIV Golf’s fiercest critic Rory McIlroy has said he would consider playing in the parallel league if it came up with an event modelled on the Indian Premier League.

The world number two consistently trash-talked the Greg Norman-fronted and Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf which goes into its third season in a few weeks in Mexico.

The India-based IPL is the world’s most valuable cricket franchise league and is played in a limited slot between international engagements, be they official bilateral series or tournaments.

“I would love LIV to turn into the IPL of golf,” McIlroy said on a podcast two days ago.

“They take two months of calendar. You go and do this team stuff and a bit different and is a different format.

“If they were to do something like that I would say ‘yeah that sounds like fun’ because you are working within the ecosystem.”

He also regretted being “too judgemental” of players who joined LIV Golf when the circuit was first introduced.

Soft words

“I was maybe a little judgemental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the start, and I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realise that not everyone is in my position or Tiger Woods’ position.

“We all turn professional to make a living. I can’t judge people for making that decision so, if I regret anything, it was probably being too judgmental at the start.”

Since it held the first set of events in 2021, LIV Golf has steadily created a presence and last month pulled off a coup in signing world number three Jon Rahm of Spain for a reported three-year $300 million deal.

While the PGA Tour and DP World (European) Tour initially rejected every outreach from the LIV ecosystem, the announcement of a framework agreement between the two sides last June sent shockwaves around the golf world.

It also left players like McIlroy hanging as he not only opposed the parallel league but also had harsh words for those who had signed up with the Saudi sovereign fund PIF-supported initiative.

McIlroy subsequent resigned his post on the PGA Tour’s policy board that includes fellow LIV critic Tiger Woods and post the Rahm deal has sought to walk back on some of his most trenchant observations.

Delayed union

The two sides were to have announced a merger by December 31 but PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has subsequently said talks with LIV and a recently-formed investor group SSG were still taking shape.

Inevitably McIlroy has faced a severe backlash for his reversal, but LIV Golf pioneer Phil Mickelson came out in support of the Northern Irishman on social media.

“This quote and the many others made today by Rory probably weren’t easy to say,” Mickelson posted on Wednesday.

“Let’s not use this as an opportunity to pile on. Rather, it’s time for me and others to let go of our hostilities and work toward a positive future.”

Mickelson, an outspoken critics of the PGA Tour from the time LIV Golf was launched, added that bringing Rahm on board as captain of a new team would go a long way in bringing the two sides together.

Stronger position

Rahm’s widely-anticipated and publicised switch last month would have further strengthened the hands of PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who is leading the negotiations with Monahan and the SSG.

“The signing is turning into a bridge to bring both sides together, as evidenced by the many comments about changing the rules for the Ryder Cup so Jon and others can play, so let’s use it as such,” Mickelson said.

“Until an agreement is reached it will be business as usual for both sides but hopefully without the needless disdain.”

McIlroy was the first to oppose European Tour members who had joined LIV Golf from being included in the Ryder Cup, They were left out of the 2023 battle in Rome, though the US did include Brooks Koepka from the LIV side.

But Rahm’s switch forced a change in stance from McIlroy, who said he would want the Spaniard on his side at the next trans-Atlantic showdown.

Smart move

“Jon is smart and sees things coming together at some point.

“He said ‘OK, I will take a lot of upfront money – which is his prerogative – and if things come together I will play LIV for a year, come back on the tour and play team golf on the fringes’.

“Jon Rahm’s not got any of the heat the first guys got for going … it’s a smart business move, it’s opportunistic. I think he sees that things will come back together.

“If that is what he wants to do and he thinks that’s the right decision for him and his family, then who am I to say any different at this point?”

Also read: PIF-PGA Tour agreement misses deadline, pushed back to April