Rory McIlroy believes the “irrational” spending of the LIV series has helped create a rift in golf that will be difficult to repair.
LIV Golf, which is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), was established in October 2021 and began play in June 2022.
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The series drove many top players off the PGA Tour with big contracts and drove a wedge between the two organizations.
“Some other sports have been failing for a long time,” McIlroy told US news channel CNBC.
“For example, if you look at boxing or what happened in American auto races like Indy and Nascar, I think it would be better to have uniformity when it comes to golf in general.
“But I think it’s going to be very difficult to achieve that given what’s happened in the last few years.”
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In June 2023, the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LIV agreed to merge, paving the way for a unified sport.
But negotiations between the tours are still ongoing two and a half years later, including interference from US President Donald Trump.
Earlier this month, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, 36, appealed to Europe’s biggest stars to “step up” and support the DP World Tour.
“As supporters of the traditional structure of men’s professional golf, we need to recognize that we were dealing with people who were behaving in a way that was irrational just in terms of capital allocated and money spent,” McIlroy added.
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“It’s been four or five years and they still haven’t made a profit, but they have to keep spending that money just to maintain what they have.
“Many of their contracts are expiring. They will ask for the same number or more. LIV has spent $5 billion to $6 billion so far and will have to spend another $50 to $600 million just to maintain the status quo.”
“I feel much more comfortable on the PGA Tour side than on the PGA Tour side, but you never know what’s going to happen.”
Bryson DeChambeau has become the most important person to move from the PGA Tour to LIV in 2022.
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The American, who is under contract until 2026, admits there is still a long way between the two sides.
“I hope something big happens, but I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon,” DeChambeau told Fox News Digital.
“I think there is too much desire on both sides and not enough on the other side to give.
“We are too far apart in many ways. It will take time, but I believe that ultimately the game of golf will grow internationally.”
