The shocking rumor that world No. 2, Rory McIlroy was about to accept a whopping $850 million contract with the controversial LIV Golf League sent shockwaves across the golf community. However, this apparent bombshell was swiftly and soundly dismissed by McIlroy’s manager, Sean O’Flaherty.

As per the Irish Independent, O’Flaherty called the news “fake” and emphasized that there was “zero truth” in the allegations. After some of his Ryder Cup teammates defected such as Tyrrell Hatton, and Jon Rahm there had been rumors that McIlroy’s softened stance on the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit was a sign. This quick rejection puts that rumor to rest.

Rory McIlroy has been a vocal critic of the breakaway league in the past and said “If LIV Golf was the last place to play golf on earth I would retire. That’s how I feel about it.” However, these are not his feelings anymore, as the “traditionalist” now believes in the unification of golf, and wishes to have a world tour in place that would lead to the betterment of the sport.

Earlier, there were rumors about the Northern Irishman signing a deal worth $750 million with LIV Golf, which was then hyped by his former manager, Chubby Chandler. But, now, the golfer’s present manager has clarified all the air around the decision.

The Masters week was a turbulent one for Rory McIlroy. His dreams of completing his career grand slam shattered, and he had to settle for a T22 finish with a score of 4 over. The inclusion of a high-profile golfer like McIlroy would have been a blessing in disguise for LIV Golf, especially after what went down at the Masters.

Names such as Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, and Rahm failed to deliver good performances, unlike last year, and the drama of suggesting a 72-hole format for the league took over! McIlroy’s involvement might have nudged Norman to tweak the format or given more limelight to the circuit. But now, that is not happening, so where will fans get to see the Northern Irishman?

What is in store for Rory McIlroy in the future?

Rory McIlroy hasn’t shown any signs of wavering in his dedication to the PGA Tour, despite the ongoing speculation. The Northern Irishman has disclosed a jam-packed itinerary of events for the upcoming weeks, which is another indication that he is still very much focused on the Tour.

In a post-Masters interview, McIlroy revealed his plans, saying, “The next two weeks I’m playing Hilton Head, I’m playing New Orleans. I’ll take a week off, playing Quail Hollow, play the PGA, take another week off, then play another four in a row.” There isn’t much room for a possible defection to the LIV Golf circuit with this busy schedule.

The desperate times for LIV Golf and McIlroy’s change in opinion of the breakaway league might have prompted this rumor, but for now, McIlroy is not defecting anytime soon!