Rory McIlroy voiced support on Wednesday for DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings' claim that LIV Golf's goal was to destroy the European golf circuit, according to The Guardian. McIlroy, a six-time major winner and former world No 1, spoke before the Abu Dhabi Championship at Yas Links.
Kinnings told the Scotsman that golfers who sign up for what he called LIV 2.0 will not be eligible for the DP World Tour in 2027, drawing a line that allows players to compete on one tour or the other but not both. He said the tour had to protect itself against an entity that spent, so he was told, over $7bn, with one of its aims being to destroy the DP World Tour.
LIV Golf is struggling to move forward without funding from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and has suffered an exodus of top players since the end of this season, including Spain's Jon Rahm and Sergio García. McIlroy, 37, is chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy said LIV took players and sponsors and turned professional golf into an arms race. He said men's golf needs a reset, arguing that LIV gave players a lot of leverage over the tours, which he does not think is good for the overall health of the professional game. There has to be a balance, he said.