Rory McIlroy declares LIV Golf is no longer a threat ahead of proposed 2027 relaunch

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Rory McIlroy believes LIV Golf was “half a good idea, executed poorly” and the breakaway is no longer a threat to the traditional game as it tries to relaunch after filing for bankruptcy.

The circuit is attempting to relaunch after entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund had ploughed in 5billion US dollars (£3.7bn) over four years. That money lured the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau away from the PGA Tour. The fund withdrew its support this year.

The relaunch, envisaged as LIV 2.0, has received potential backing of 300million US dollars (£227m) from BC Partners Capital. That support is conditional on a specified number of players re-signing for the new venture.

Rahm has already announced he will not be continuing.

Jon Rahm will not be a part of LIV 2.0 (PA)

News this week that any player signing up for LIV will be barred from DP World Tour membership and Ryder Cup eligibility has delivered a crippling blow.

“LIV had probably like, half of a good idea that was executed pretty poorly,” McIlroy told the Bloomberg New Economy forum in New Delhi, where he is playing this week in the DP World India Championship.

“They had a lot of capital but I think a lot of that capital was wasted in some ways and I think they could have used that money a lot more strategically and could have partnered with some of the governing bodies of the game and certainly could have done better things with it instead of just enriching tour pros who were already making a lot of money.

“BC Partners have come in and seen an opportunity (but) it looks like every day that goes by there’s another player that was on LIV who is not going to join LIV 2.0 so I think it is going to be very difficult to get out of this Chapter 11 bankruptcy and go forward.

“But if they do it is certainly not going to be a threat to the traditional order of the game as it once was.”

A more pertinent issue now seems to be what happens to those players quitting LIV. The PGA Tour invokes a one-year suspension on them, denying access until August next year. The DP World Tour has stiffened its rules, but its membership remains divided.

“I’m sure some members who stayed loyal would feel hard done by if these guys can just walk straight back in but, on the other side, having these players back on the tour is good for business and it can drive revenues up and everyone can benefit from that,” added McIlroy.

“I would vote for them to come back. A rising tide lifts all boats and I think having some of these players back is beneficial for the business of the tours.”

LIV Golf is planning to relaunch in 2027 (PA)

It is not a view shared by six-time DP World Tour winner Joost Luiten.

“Four years ago they didn’t give a s*** about the DP World Tour,” he told Today’s Golfer.

“They made a decision to go after the money and now all of a sudden, the money is gone and they want to come back and act like nothing happened. I don’t think that’s right.

“If they think they are that good then show it at Q-School (qualifying school) and beat the guys. That’s how every other guy that wants to play on this tour has to go.”

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