Rory McIlroy Reveals LIV Golf Aimed To Destroy European Tour Before Bankruptcy Filing
Rory McIlroy has revealed that figures associated with LIV Golf explicitly stated their intention to “destroy the European Tour” at the 2026 Masters. The world number two made the comments just months before the Saudi-backed breakaway league filed for bankruptcy protection.
The 37-year-old Northern Irishman, a six-time major winner, has been a vocal opponent of LIV since its controversial launch in 2022. The league attracted several of the sport’s biggest names during its initial expansion phase.
Speaking in an interview with the Scotsman, DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings confirmed that LIV had a stated aim to “destroy the DP World Tour. McIlroy corroborated these claims, noting the ambition was voiced at Augusta National this year.
“I agree with everything that Guy said. They took players; they took sponsors; they turned professional golf into an arms race,” said McIlroy at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. “They were going around Augusta saying they wanted to destroy the European Tour.
The Northern Irishman reflected on the sustainability of the breakaway tour, suggesting its financial model was destined to fail. “It was always going to be good for a few years until something like this happened, or they realised they were not going to get any return on investment,” he explained.
He added that the investors might have decided to leave the golf space entirely to invest in sectors that would actually generate profit. The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) recently withdrew its backing after investing more than $5bn (£3.8bn) in the venture.
Following this withdrawal, the league filed for bankruptcy protection last month. While a possible $300m (£224m) financing deal from BC Partners Credit could lead to a restructured “LIV 2.0”, the landscape is shifting rapidly.
Leading players including Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia have already walked away from the organisation. This exodus highlights the growing uncertainty surrounding the future of the breakaway tour.
McIlroy believes the period of intense competition has left a complex legacy for the sport. “I think we’ll look back on it as a very strange time. It gave players a lot of leverage over the tours, and I don’t necessarily think that’s a good thing for the overall health of the professional game,” he stated.
He argued that a correction in the market is necessary for long-term stability. “I do think there has to be a bit of a reset. They [LIV Golf] created a false economy within men’s professional golf, and I think that there is going to be a bit of a reset here just for things to be a little bit more sustainable.
McIlroy acknowledged that some players may view the reduction in financial arms racing negatively. However, he dismissed this perspective as short-term thinking. “If you want sustainable tours, and we want these tours around in 50 years’ time, there has to be sustainable business practices in place,” he insisted.
Currently competing in Abu Dhabi, McIlroy is seeking to bolster his bid to win the Race To Dubai for a record-equalling eighth time. He enters the penultimate event of the season at Yas Links GC in third place in the standings.
He trails leader Eugenio Chacarra by 999.03 points, with American Patrick Reed also in contention. The stakes are high as the season approaches its final stages.
With 1,500 points on offer this week and a further 2,000 at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next week, McIlroy’s hopes of matching Colin Montgomerie’s historic mark remain alive. The points distribution offers a realistic pathway for the Northern Irishman to close the deficit.
Mcilroy expressed optimism about his position in the race. “I’m excited to be here, excited to get going and excited to at least be in the conversation of trying to win another Race to Dubai,” he said.
He recognised the difficulty of the task ahead. “I know I’m going to have to have a [good] week this week to do that. Hopefully I can and make things interesting going into next week.
The world number two found comfort in the substantial points available in the final two events. “I think what gives me comfort is the amount of points that are on offer this week and next week,” he concluded.
Even without a victory, a strong finish would keep his chances realistic. “So even if I don’t win but I still have a strong finish, I’ll still feel like I have a realistic chance going into next week,” he added.
Eli Nathan
Eli Nathan covers Wales news, politics, community stories, and sports for The National Wales (thenational.wales).
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