Rory McIlroy says he is open to welcoming opponents who left to affix LIV Golf again to the PGA Tour ranks.
It is a notable change in public opinion for the five-time main champion, who has been among the many most open critics of LIV and its divisive affect on golf.
“I believe they’ve already paid their consequence. They’ve made the cash however they’ve paid their consequence when it comes to the fame and among the issues they’ve misplaced by going over there,” McIlroy mentioned in an look on “The Overlap” podcast. “If it made the general tour stronger to have Bryson DeChambeau again and whoever else, I might be okay with it.
“However it’s not simply me, and I acknowledge that not everyone seems to be in my place. It might be as much as the collective group of PGA Tour members to make that call.”
Within the wake of exits from a few of its prime golfers who accepted vital paydays to affix LIV, the PGA instituted a rule that opponents won’t be eligible to compete in its occasions till a full 12 months has handed since their last LIV occasion.
Laurie Canter, who final competed on the LIV Tour in 2024, was to develop into the primary LIV competitor to return to the PGA Tour this upcoming season after incomes his tour card. As a substitute, he determined to rejoin LIV, signing with Majesticks for the 2026 season.
5-time main champion Brooks Koepka might develop into the primary competitor who checks the PGA’s return coverage. Koepka signed a four-year take care of LIV reportedly price upwards of $100 million, however the league introduced Dec. 23 that he can be leaving the league forward of the fourth 12 months on his deal as a result of he shall be “prioritizing the wants of his household.”
It stays to be seen, nonetheless, if Koepka will try and return to the PGA Tour earlier than the one-year ready interval, which might lengthen by way of August.
LIV has made the change from 54-hole occasions to the normal 72 to be able to try and make its occasions eligible for Official Golf World Rating factors, that are used to find out eligibility for main occasions.
OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman mentioned in an announcement Dec. 30 that the method of LIV occasions trying to be eligible for OWGR factors stays ongoing.
–Area Stage Media
