PALM BEACH GARDENS — Rory McIlroy has been one of LIV Golf’s leading critics throughout the golf civil war over the past four years.
McIlroy has softened his stance over the past 12 months. On Friday night, McIlroy spoke for the first time about fellow Palm Beach County resident Brooks Koepka, who announced he would leave LIV Golf on Dec. 24, a year before his contract expires, and said he welcomes the five-time major champion back to the PGA Tour. However, many factors go into that decision.
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“Does it make sense that Brooks would want to be back on the PGA Tour to get him back as soon as possible? That’s right,” McIlroy told the Palm Beach Post after Boston Common won its first tournament in TGL history, defeating Los Angeles Golf Club 7-5 at SoFi Center. “What Brooks accomplished in golf, it’s going to be good for everyone to have him back.
“It’s difficult because you can’t treat one person differently than another. And the tour wants to treat Brooks differently, but this sets a legal precedent because of all the lawsuits that have been going on and everything that’s been going on behind the scenes.”
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“Because of the major win, he’s still exempt on tour. That’s not the hurdle. The hurdle is how they’ve treated other players who have tried to come back, how they’ve treated the serve suspensions and whatever. That’s the difficult thing.”
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The decision is not up to McIlroy. It’s up to the PGA Tour’s policy committee, CEO Brian Rolup, and the rest of the Tour membership who have an equal stake in the Tour’s success.
But McIlroy’s status as one of the world’s best golfers (the Jupiter resident won last year’s Masters, becoming only the sixth player to win a career Grand Slam) carries weight. He joins Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Gene Sarazen at golf’s most exclusive club.
When Rory speaks, people listen. And he knows that professional golf is better when top stars play together.
That’s especially true at Palm Beach County’s PGA Tour event, the Cognizant Classic at PGA National. Cognizant had struggled to draw decent fields in recent years due to its position on the PGA Tour’s schedule. McIlroy knows how much Koepka’s presence enhances the tournament.
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“I think everyone understands the value Brooks brings to his hometown event and any event on the PGA Tour,” McIlroy said. “He’s a five-time major champion, but he’s so much more than that. That’s the difficult part. The lawyers and tour executives are going to have to understand that.”
Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley of Boston Common Golf high-five after hitting a shot against Los Angeles Golf Club at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on January 2, 2026.
Will LIV golfers have to pay the price for turning their backs on the PGA Tour? McIlroy said they already do that.
“They made money, but they paid a price in terms of reputation and some of the things they lost by going over there,” he said.
McIlroy isn’t used to losing, but his Boston Common golf team was the only TGL team that didn’t win a match during its inaugural season last year. In the league that introduced the technology that McIlroy co-founded with Woods, they finished last with 0 wins, 4 losses, and 1 loss.
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“I think Gene Sarazen would have won a TGL match,” McIlroy joked.
Michael Thorbjornsen helps Boston Common win over Los Angeles
Michael Thorbjornsen of Boston Common Golf tees off against Los Angeles Golf Club at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on January 2, 2026.
Boosted by rookie Michael Thorbjornsen playing alongside veterans Keegan Bradley and McIlroy, Boston Common (1-0-0) finally picked up its first TGL win. The Los Angeles team of Justin Rose, Collin Morikawa and Saheth Segala went 4-0-1 last year and was considered a top TGL team, but lost to the Atlanta Drive in the playoffs.
Thorbjornsen became the first player in league history to make four putts of 10 feet or longer, helping Boston Common win. His third was No. 12 and 17 feet.thBoston Common gave Los Angeles (0-1-0) a 6-5 lead for good.
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Thorbjornsen sealed the victory with a 17-footer for eagle on the final hole. Boston Common finally achieved its first victory.
“He was a stud tonight, the star of the show,” McIlroy said of Thorbjornsen. “It’s been a long time coming for Keegan and I. It hasn’t been that long for Michael. He seems like a natural to be there.”
This article originally appeared in the Palm Beach Post: Brooks Koepka will get support from Rory McIlroy if he returns to PGA Tour
