Will the PGA Tour lose another star player to LIV Golf? If the recent speculations about world no. 2 joining the breakaway circuit are to be believed, yes. As reported by the City AM, apparently Rory McIlroy may sign with LIV Golf for their most expensive deal yet. The PIF-backed league has reportedly offered a lucrative deal of $850 million with a 2% equity share in the league. 

Although neither LIV Golf nor McIlroy have confirmed or denied the rumors, the Northern Irishman’s constant plea for unification in golf has fallen on deaf ears. This may cause the 34-year-old to ultimately jump ships and follow in the path of his fellow pro, Jon Rahm, who was once disinterested in LIV but soon joined the league deal over $500 million.

The PGA Tour’s delay in the merger may cause Rory McIlroy to join LIV Golf

When Jay Monahan shook hands with Yasir Al-Rumayyan in the summer of 2023, Rory McIlroy felt betrayed and labeled himself a “sacrificial lamb.” The Northern Irishman was disheartened by the Tour’s move but stood loyal to the PGA Tour. However, from that point in his life to now, McIlroy’s stance on the American Tour has changed drastically, and his take on LIV Golf has also softened significantly.

In that bid, the 34-year-old opined on the need for unification in the currently divided golf world. In his recent interview with Golf Monthly, McIlroy stated, “There needs to be a correction. I think what’s happening is not sustainable right now, so something needs to happen to try to bring it all back together so we can all move forward so we don’t have this division that’s sort of ongoing.”

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This was not the first time McIlroy called for the merger to be finalized. However, his concerns have not been answered as he would’ve wished. The utter silence from Tour’s side and McIlroy’s concerns being simultaneously sidelined may push him to sign the rumored $850 million deal. Although he has called himself a “traditionalist” who will not join LIV golf, Rahm had done something similar to deny the rumors until he joined the league.

Will McIlroy follow through on the same? The question remains unanswered; however, his recent tiff with Jordan Spieth on the PGA Tour-PIF merger gives an insight into how far McIlroy has pushed for the merger. And how his views may not align with the PGA Tour’s.

Rory McIlroy left the group chat after an altercation with Jordan Spieth

When Rory McIlroy resigned from the Players Advisory Council of the PGA Tour, Jordan Spieth took his place. McIlroy had sighted the reason for focusing more on his personal and professional life, saying, “Something had to give.” Though the Irishman had left the council, he didn’t stop vocalizing the need for an immediate merger.

However, his replacement, Spieth, did not favor his opinions. Unlike McIlroy, Spieth believed that the PGA Tour didn’t need investments from the PIF after the $3 billion partnership with SSG was formed. He said, “I don’t think that [an agreement with PIF] is needed,” in the week of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The same week, the PGA Tour players Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan met to discuss the deal.

In response to Spieth’s comments, McIlroy called him to discuss the issue. The two ultimately didn’t see eye to eye, and the 4-time major winner removed himself from the PGA Tour pros group chat. The recent disagreements between McIlroy and Spieth shed light on how far the PGA Tour and Irishman are relating to finalizing the merger.

The rumors, though now totally unreal, can become true if Jay Monahan and Co. do not finalize the merger soon, or give McIlroy what he is demanding, betterment of golf!