Rory McIlroy has set the record straight on rumours that he was on the verge of signing with LIV Golf after a report in the London-based City A.M. newspaper claimed that he was about to put pen to paper on an $850 million deal that would also see him take a 2% equity share in LIV.
“I honestly don’t know how these things get started,” he told Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis at Hilton Head where he is preparing for the RBC Heritage, one of PGA Tour’s Signature Events. “I’ve never been offered a number from LIV, I’ve never contemplated going to LIV, and I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years is that it’s not something for me.”
McIlroy has been the most vocal opponent of LIV Golf since it’s arrival in 2022, but he reiterated his belief that he may have been too harsh in judging some of the players who opted to make the jump.
“It doesn’t mean that I judge people that have gone and played over there,” he followed on to Lewis. “One of the things I’ve realised over the past two years is that, you know, people can make their own decisions on whatever they think is best for themselves, and who are we to judge them for that? But, personally for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour and it’s never been any different.”
The world number two is baffled as to how and where these rumours started, but admits that there have been many rumours floating around about various players over the two years.
“I’ve realised as well that guys need to keep an open mind, and I’m sure there are players playing on the PGA Tour that have talked to the guys from LIV and had offers and whatever, but yeah, I’ve no idea,” he said.
“It’s never even been a conversation for us. It’s just one of those things and it’s unfortunate that we have to deal with it and this is the state that our game is in, but I’m obviously here today and I’m playing a PGA Tour event next week and I will play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career.”