Rory McIlroy criticizes LIV for turning pro golf into ‘arms race’

Rory McIlroy criticized LIV Golf on Wednesday, deeming it to have turned professional golf into an "arms race" by poaching players and sponsors from rival tours. Speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship, the Northern Irish player agreed with DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings' claim that LIV had attempted to undermine the European circuit. According to McIlroy, the Saudi-backed league had sought to destroy The European Tour, as admitted by its representatives at the Masters.

While acknowledging the financial benefits LIV brought to golf, McIlroy highlighted that this investment ultimately left the Asian Tour high and dry due to insufficient support. The six-time major champion also pointed out that the tour subsequently returned to the fold through partnerships with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

McIlroy, 37, suggested that LIV's financial model would likely encounter challenges if investors were unable to recoup their investments or opted to allocate their funds to other ventures. The league's Public Investment Fund, responsible for over $5 billion in investments since its inception in 2022, has announced its withdrawal of financial backing after the 2026 season. LIV subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September.

Despite the league's downfall, McIlroy believes that the disruption caused by LIV may ultimately benefit men's golf by fostering a more sustainable long-term future for the sport.