Rory McIlroy says men’s professional golf needs a reset after what he called a “false economy” created by LIV Golf. The Northern Irishman believes the recent period will be remembered as an unusual time for the sport and says its tours need sustainable business practices to remain viable over the long term.
Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, McIlroy backed comments by DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings that LIV had aimed to “destroy the DP World Tour”. McIlroy said the claim was made at The Masters this year, where he won his second consecutive Green Jacket.
“They took players; they took sponsors; they turned professional golf into an arms race,” McIlroy said. He added that LIV’s approach could work for a few years, but questioned whether it could deliver a return on investment or remain a priority for its backers.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund withdrew its support after investing more than $5bn, and LIV filed for bankruptcy protection last month. Possible financing of $300m from BC Partners Credit could support a new version of the league, while players including Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia have already left.
McIlroy said LIV gave players more leverage over the tours, which he does not consider beneficial to the overall health of the professional game. He argued that a less intense financial arms race could help make the tours more sustainable, even if some players see that change as negative in the short term.
At Yas Links, McIlroy is also pursuing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title. He is third in the standings, 999.03 points behind leader Eugenio Chacarra, with Patrick Reed in second. There are 1,500 points available this week and a further 2,000 at next week’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
McIlroy said he would need a strong week in Abu Dhabi to keep his chances alive, but added that the points available across the two events meant a good finish could leave him with a realistic opportunity in Dubai.
Sources: BBC Sport.