We all know the never-ending feud between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, but what’s often overlooked is the impact it’s had on the DP World Tour. One of the recent examples of the ongoing drama was seen when Jon Rahm described the current state of men’s professional golf as a “golden era” due to the numerous possibilities with multiple tours and Rory McIlroy countered Rahm’s optimism by suggesting his viewing the situation through “rose-tinted glasses.” But while the PGA Tour and LIV Golf were busy fighting each other off, this golf analyst thinks the DP World Tour has made some serious benefits.

In the latest episode of 5 Clubs on YouTube, golf announcer Gary Williams shed light on the DP World Tour’s sneaky success amidst the drama in men’s pro golf. “I think the DP World Tour, in a very stealth, clever, understated way, has benefited from all this,” Williams said. As the tour heads to Dubai for a Rolex Series event, he noted that having LIV players like John Rahm compete at the Dubai Desert Classic is a big win. “They have the presence of LIV players occasionally starting this week with John Rahm and a few others,” Williams pointed out. But Rahm is not the only LIV golfer playing at the Dubai Desert Classic as Tyrrell Hatton and Patrick Reed are also a part of the field this year.

Williams acknowledged that the DP World Tour has traditionally been a stepping stone for top players seeking to join the PGA Tour, but he believes the tour has found a way to thrive. “The best players, whether they’re from Continental Europe or other places in the world, start there, but ultimately they want to find their way onto the PGA Tour,” Williams said and yes, the DP World Tour indeed represents a truly global tour which featuring around 44 tournaments in 24 countries further showcasing diverse international players who later leave the tour to go pursue their dream on the PGA Tour.

Despite this, the DP World Tour has managed to hold onto its stars, with players like Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm still maintaining ties to the tour. “That’s where they were born, that’s where they were bred, that is where they made themselves professional golfers,” Williams noted. And well, there’s no lie in this as McIlroy is also one of the European players who thrived on the DP World Tour before he became a superstar at the PGA Tour.

Rory McIlroy’s story from the DP World Tour to the PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy’s golfing journey is nothing short of phenomenal and we think you would agree. At just 15, he represented Ireland at the European Boys’s Team Championship and was part of Europe’s winning Junior Ryder Cup Team. As an amateur, McIlroy made history by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship in 2005. And as if that wasn’t enough, he turned pro in 2007 and made a name for himself on the European Tour by earning his card in just two starts and also finishing the season with six top-10 finishes. Then by 2008, he broke into the top 200 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

McIlroy then went on and joined the PGA Tour in 2010 and won his maiden title by setting a course record and becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to win on the PGA Tour before turning 21. In 2012 he became the world no.1 for the first time and has since won 24 PGA Tour and 17 European Tour trophies, including four Major Championships. McIlroy has also represented Europe in the Ryder Cup seven times, with five wins. We mean talk about being a legend! Another competition is awaiting McIlroy at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, do you think he’ll win that one as well? Let us know in the comment section below!