Reset needed after LIV's 'false economy' - McIlroy — SkimNews
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- Rory McIlroy said recent years will be viewed as a “very strange” era in golf history, with LIV's 2022 launch giving players leverage over the tours in a way he says was not good for professional golf’s overall health.
- Rory McIlroy called for a reset away from LIV's “false economy,” rejecting the short-term view that a less intense arms race is bad for players and saying sustainable business practices are needed for tours to remain in place in 50 years.
- PIF withdrew its backing after investing more than $5bn, and LIV Golf filed for bankruptcy protection last month.
- BC Partners Credit was named as the source of a possible $300m financing package, which could lead to what has been dubbed “LIV 2.0.”
- Sergio Garcia and Jon Rahm have already walked away from LIV, while related headlines reinforce that player-exit narrative through Garcia confirming his departure, Rahm discussing an exit and Lee Westwood being described as “unemployed” amid uncertainty.
- LIV Golf took players and sponsors and turned professional golf into an arms race; McIlroy said those connected to the league discussed destroying the European Tour in April, and called the current situation inevitable.
Why it matters: For players, tours and sponsors, McIlroy’s diagnosis is that LIV’s arms race briefly strengthened player bargaining power but created unsustainable economics. With PIF withdrawing after a previous investment of more than $5bn and LIV in bankruptcy protection, his proposed reset puts 50-year tour viability ahead of short-term leverage.
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