Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth. These are some of the names that are not so keen on allowing the LIV Golf Pros to return to the PGA Tour. But Rory McIlroy would disagree. When gearing up for his first appearance at the Jay Monahan-led circuit in 2024, he advocated for allowing the defectors to return to the Tour. Well, it seems he is not alone, as Billy Horschel came forward to side with the Northern Irishman just recently!

The 37-year-old was spotted in an interview with ForePlay, where he was asked about whether the PGA Tour needs LIV golfers back on it. Responding to the same, Horschel went ahead to mention how the people who joined the breakaway league would need to join the Tour if the deal with PIF were to happen. But the fans were not so keen on his take.

Billy Horschel shares the same opinion as Rory McIlroy

“I agree with Rory,” admitted Horschel as he elaborated on the need for the defectors to be able to join the Jay Monahan-led circuit. Adding on, he said, “That’s going to instantaneously increase the value, or at least the perception of the value, of the PGA Tour,” while alluding to the current situation of the league. But even so, he made sure to express his understanding of Spieth‘s side as well: “I understand if we have two competing Tours, I mean, competition is a great thing. It makes both sides have to improve and do things to get better, and I believe that the PGA Tour product will always win out.“

Meanwhile, soon after the deal with SSG was done, Spieth was spotted mentioning how the PGA Tour didn’t need a deal with the PIF at the moment. “I think the short answer is we don’t have to,” stated the golfer while referring to the merger before adding, “The long answer is, the positive there is unification… but I’m not sure if, or how, or when it would get done.”

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Coming back to Rory McIlroy: The 4-time major champ, a while after expressing regret over misjudging the defectors, urged for a change in the mindset of the PGA Tour: “Let them come back… I don’t think there should be a punishment [for LIV players wanting to return to the PGA Tour].” However, not everyone seems to agree with the golfer and Horschel, as even netizens took to the post to comment against the idea.

Netizens rain down chaos on Horschel and his stance

Many golfers who were part of the PGA Tour defected to LIV Golf while raking in a lot of money. From Brooks Koepka, who received $100 million as a signing bonus for joining the Breakaway League, to McIlroy’s Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm, who was awarded an amount of $550 as per reports, there have been many who got on the bad side of the Tour loyalists.

Thus, a lot of the followers responded that they shouldn’t be allowed to rejoin after making such a decision. “Absolutely f**king not… we’re done with the LIV guys, stop talking about it. They took the $$.. it’s done. we’re moving on,” said one, while another wrote, “absolutely not! They made the choice to quit, cant just disgraces the sport then act like nothing happened…liv is extremely irrelevant.” Another chimed in with, “No. Honestly have not missed any of them.”

Many were content with the way it is right now. Since OWGR doesn’t allow LIV Golf pros any points, this led to only 13 professionals from the disruptive circuit being allowed to participate in the Masters earlier this year. Thus, professionals from the two sides in the same field led it to have much more hype than any other events on the PGA Tour or LIV Golf.

One fan couldn’t help but agree on the same lines as they commented. “I kind of prefer the way it is now. The Majors have more meaning and more hype.” Meanwhile, another enthusiast responded with the comment, “Some of them yes, but not all of them. I’d pull some 10 back, then shut it down.” Interestingly, and perhaps expectedly, the loyalists themselves have some favorites in the Greg Norman-led league.

The golf world can only wait and see if what they want will come true or whether the opposite situation will, in fact, become a reality. Regardless of the two, one thing is certain: the sport is in a precarious situation right now!