Rory McIlroy said he would vote to allow players who left for LIV Golf back onto the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, describing the breakaway circuit as a diminished force as it works through bankruptcy.
"Yes, I would," the world number two told Bloomberg in New Delhi, where he is playing this week's DP World India Championship. "I think a rising tide lifts all boats," he said. "Having some of these players back is beneficial for the business of the tours, absolutely."
In a video published by Bloomberg Television, McIlroy said LIV had "probably half of a good idea that was executed pretty poorly."
McIlroy, a six-time major champion, was one of LIV's most outspoken critics when the league launched in 2022 and split men's professional golf. He said its capital could have been spent more strategically, including by partnering with the sport's governing bodies.
His comments follow the DP World Tour's decision on Monday that players who sign up for LIV's 2027 season will not be allowed to keep membership of the Europe-based circuit. The tour had previously granted conditional releases to players who joined LIV. Because Ryder Cup eligibility requires DP World Tour membership, the ruling carries added weight in a Ryder Cup year.
McIlroy said the leadership of both tours should consult their members. "On one hand, I'm sure some members that stayed loyal would feel hard done by if these guys can just walk straight back in," he said. "But having these players back on your tour is very good for business," he added, according to CBS Sports.
LIV has secured potential financing of $300m from BC Partners Credit, BBC News reported, but its future is uncertain. Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner, has opted out of LIV Golf 2.0. His lawyer told a bankruptcy hearing the terms were "unacceptable." McIlroy said it would be "very difficult" for the circuit to emerge from Chapter 11. Even if it does, he added, it will not threaten the traditional tours as it once did.
He also said he lost friendships with players who left. "People I played with on European Ryder Cup teams that I'm not as close with anymore," he said.