McIlroy Backs PGA Tour Return for LIV Golf Defectors as League's Future Hangs in Balance

Rory McIlroy signaled support for LIV Golf players returning to the PGA Tour as the Saudi-backed league's future grows uncertain.

The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia will end its funding of LIV Golf after this season. McIlroy, who has shifted his stance on the league multiple times, now believes golf benefits from reintegrating defectors. Brooks Koepka has already rejoined the PGA Tour, and Patrick Reed plans to return next year.

"If it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, I think Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that. That's just good business practice," McIlroy said Tuesday at the Truist Championship, according to ESPN.

He added a warning for those who stay away. "If you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, this is the place to be. And if you don't want to play here, I think that says something about you."

McIlroy spoke days after Bryson DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion with 2.6 million YouTube subscribers, floated a full-time pivot to content creation if LIV folds. DeChambeau's top video features his "Breaking 50" series alongside President Donald Trump.

"I think, from my perspective, I'd love to grow my YouTube channel three times, maybe even more," DeChambeau said recently. "I'd love to do a bunch of dubbing in different languages, giving the world more reason to watch YouTube. And then I'd love to play tournaments that want me."

LIV Golf announced earlier this week that it hired Ducera Partners LLC as its investment banking advisor. The firm will help secure long-term investment partners and shift the league toward a diversified, multi-partner model.