Rory McIlroy has found a ton of success during his professional career with 26 PGA Tour wins and currently ranking as the world’s No. 3 player.
He is set to return to action in this week’s RBC Canadian Open, which should make a lot less headlines compared to last year’s tournament. The 2023 rendition was overtaken by headlines regarding the PGA working with the PIF, which is the Saudi Public Investment Fund that funds the rival LIV Golf. It was announced that two tours began working on a way to offer an olive branch of sorts to one another at this time last year.
At the time, McIlroy was a major advocate for the PGA Tour while LIV looked to gain traction, but recently revealed that he regrets just how much of an advocate he became.
Feb 1, 2024; Pebble Beach, California, USA; Rory Mcllroy stands on the 10th tee during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course.
Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
“I think, in hindsight, I wish I hadn’t have gotten involved or not hadn’t gotten involved, hadn’t have gotten as deeply involved in it, and I’ve articulated that,” he told Golf Monthly. “I hold no grudge, I hold no resentment over the guys that chose to go and play on LIV. Everyone’s got their own decisions to make and everyone is, has the right to make those decisions.”
He also revealed that he is worried about how much LIV has affected the sport as a whole, creating a “divide” amongst the competitors.
“My whole thing is I’m just disappointed to what it’s done to, not to the game of golf, the game of golf will be fine, but men’s professional golf and this sort of divide we have at the minute.”
He did express a wish to “come back together” but reiterated he was in too deep on the matter.
“Yeah, I mean, in hindsight, hindsight’s always 20/20,” he added. “But in hindsight I wish I hadn’t have gotten as deeply involved as I have.”
Whether or not his wish for coming together will come true is yet to be seen, but clearly the rivalry between the two tours isn’t sitting well with some of the world’s best.