Rory McIlroy Fires Back After Xander Schauffele & Co Accused Him of Double Standards on PGA Tour Concerns

“If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on earth, I would retire. That’s how I feel about it,” is how Rory McIlroy described the intense hate he felt back in July 2023. Mostly because the Saudi-backed league was exactly what purists scrunched their noses at: A new league that lured players with unprecedented financial benefits, took away from the history PGA Tour presented, while “sportswashing to cover up Saudi Arabia’s appalling human rights record”. McIlroy, being the traditionalist with family history in the sport, was no different. But strangely, by January of next year, he started singing a different tune.

In an appearance on the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast, the Northern Irish player admitted how he was a “little judgmental” of detractors, and how he shouldn’t judge people for trying to make a living. Sounds like a happy ending, right? Well, it’s far from that, because critics didn’t take lightly how quickly McIlroy changed his stance.

In August last year, Xander Schauffele said in a snide remark: “He kind of bounces around with his opinion, you know.” Then, in February this year, golfer and analyst Johnson Wagner didn’t hold back either after McIlroy seemed especially delighted at the prospect of a LIV-PGA merger. Accusing the Masters champ for thinking only about money, Wagner pointed out that McIlroy is looking at it from a “finite perspective”. “You know who hasn’t benefited since all these things have gone on? The sponsors, who pay all the bills. TV is down, everything is down yet they are being asked to pay more money. So, good for you, I’m glad you’re making more money than you were in ’19, which was a ton of money.” 

Truth be told, McIlroy has hardly reacted to the criticism, just working his way to glory. It was almost like he didn’t even know what people were thinking of him, until the 36-year-old made an appearance on the ‘How Leaders Lead with David Novak’ podcast. The host first asked, “I got to give you a lot of credit because you have evolved. You came out and you said I hate LIV or something to that extent. And now you seem to have softened your view. What’s it take for you as a leader to change your mind on something?” To this, the golfer began by saying, “Being able to change your mind is one of the greatest things in the human experience.”

He acknowledged the mounting criticism head-on. “I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit of criticism for changing my mind, but I actually view being able to change your mind as a good thing,” he explained with clear conviction. Furthermore, he directly refuted the accusations of flip-flopping. “I don’t think it’s flip-flopping. I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” he stated firmly.

The podcast revealed McIlroy’s deeper philosophy about leadership and adaptability. He emphasized how new information should influence decision-making. “If you can’t change your mind based on new information, then that’s not a great place to start from,” he argued passionately. Moreover, he positioned intellectual flexibility as a strength rather than a weakness. “I truly think someone that’s able to change their mind based on new information is an open-minded person,” he added confidently.

“Trying to be a little more open-minded and trying to talk to people from the other side,” he concluded. But the golfer is not alone…

Rory McIlroy joins golf’s pattern of opinion evolution

McIlroy’s situation reflects broader patterns in professional golf leadership. Greg Norman faced similar criticism during his controversial 1990s proposal for the World Golf Tour. Critics called him “greedy” and questioned his underlying motives. Phil Mickelson endured intense backlash after joining LIV Golf, facing accusations of betraying the PGA Tour. Eventually, both players softened their tones and called for unity within the sport.

These examples reveal a consistent pattern among golf’s most prominent figures when facing criticism for changing positions. Initially, they defend their decisions aggressively. Then, they gradually adopt more conciliatory approaches as industry dynamics evolve.

The podcast interview ultimately revealed McIlroy’s determination to defend intellectual honesty above all else. He refused to apologize for evolving his thinking or adapting his positions. Instead, he positioned adaptability as an essential leadership quality for modern golf.

Whether golf’s traditionalists accept this progressive philosophy remains uncertain. However, McIlroy’s passionate defense suggests he won’t retreat from his position anytime soon.