LIV Golf is definitely not dead in the water. Rather, it might have on its ship the very man who said it was dead in the water. City A.M. reported that Rory McIlroy, is, in fact, close to signing an $850 million deal with the Greg Norman-fronted league. According to two insider sources who spoke to the finance daily, the Ulsterman will also receive a 2% stake in the company.

It’ll definitely make him the most valued golfer on LIV’s roster. But Rory McIlroy seems to have other plans. He is still listed in the RBC Heritage field, the Tour’s next $20 million purse Signature event. In fact, McIlroy has his entire schedule planned till the end of June.

Rory McIlroy denied LIV Golf rumors indirectly

The Ulsterman’s green jacket hopes crashed on the back of his 5-over 77 on Friday. By Saturday, his mind was already set on RBC Heritage. The Ulsterman said his Sunday plan was to, “shoot a good round of golf and move on to Hilton Head next week in a good frame of mind, I guess.” Rory McIlroy has already played seven PGA Tour events as part of his amped-up practice before the Masters. It didn’t yield the intended result, but Ulsterman wants to keep the momentum. 

The 34-year-old will tee off in the Zurich Classic after the RBC Heritage. Skipping Byron Nelson, McIlroy would enlist in the Wells Fargo Championship, the sixth Signature event, and then head straight to Valhalla. After that, the four-time Major winner will take a week off and play the next four events in succession. 

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“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. Loving golf at the moment. Loving it,” Rory McIlroy said on Sunday.

However, despite his confirmation, McIlroy was in serious doubt as a bombshell report hinted that he was closer to joining LIV Golf than ever. Coupled with Greg Norman’s sightings at Augusta, McIlroy’s PGA Tour future was hanging with a large question mark.

LIV Golf rumors are just nonsense?

Apparently, Greg Norman was following Rory McIlroy’s first-round grouping at Augusta. There were also reports of the Great White Shark trying to approach the Northern Irishman during practice rounds as well. However, when asked about it, McIlroy said, “I did not. Didn’t see him.”

But that refused to quell the rumors. McIlroy has softened up on the breakaway league, expressing regret for being too judgmental earlier. In a surprising turn of events, he also conceded that LIV Golf has exposed the flaws in the PGA Tour’s system. Moreover, his former agent, Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, said there is a chance of him switching to the Saudi-backed side. 

McIlroy refused to clear out the air, offering only a tongue-in-cheek that muddied the water further. Additionally, Ulsterman has spoken in favor of allowing LIV Golfers to play on the Tour without any punishment. Following a disagreement on the matter, McIlroy also removed himself from a WhatsApp group of PGA Tour players. 

It’s not easy to miss why the rumors picked up momentum. But Sky Sports reporter, Jamie Weir, dubbed the reports as total nonsense. McIlroy, as of now, is set to tee off at the RBC Heritage for the third time in his career. Seven of the top ten and 24 of the top 30 are in the field. 

Interestingly, last year McIlroy skipped RBC Heritage, resulting in a $3 million fine. The four-time Major winner has played at the Harbour Town Golf Links only twice in his career. Back in 2009, he managed a T58 when the tournament was known as Verizon Heritage. 11 years later, on his second trip to Beaufort County, Rory McIlroy could only better that to T41. It’s a little surprising because Harbour Town Golf Links is an elite driver’s paradise. Perhaps, McIlroy will leverage that to the fullest this year. He is fourth on the Tour in strokes gained: off the tee.