Rory McIlroy to LIV Golf? Buzz Ignited Yet Again as Fans Vent Reality After Travelers Championship WD

It was the month of February. Rory McIlroy’s former agent, Chubby Chandler, had hinted at the golfer’s jump to LIV Golf. A few days later, the Northern Irishman teased the same when he responded, “Somewhere in the middle maybe, who knows,” to his ex-agent, marking his chances of defection at 10%. Despite all the hype and the reported $850 million offer, the golfer himself confirmed his plans to stay on the PGA Tour. Now, coming back to the present, it’s the fans who are pushing for the pro’s jump!

A tweet was shared by Secret Tour Pro mentioning how McIlroy was once again offered a deal by the Saudi-backed league: “Rory McIlroy once again being lined up with an offer from LIV Golf. Estimated package that to be the same as John Rahm with Team Ownership & and Naming Rights. Team is to be called “Four Leafs” (or similar) with Irish connection and Irish players.”

The rumor mills surrounding the golfer started churning almost a week after the 4-time major champ withdrew from the ongoing Travelers Championship. He did so while expressing the need for a break in a bid to build himself back up following the U.S. Open loss: “I’ll look at the positives of the week that far outweigh the negatives. … I’m going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything.”

But what was surprising was the fact that many in the community, including his fans, took to fill the tweet with comments just hours after it was posted. Interestingly, a majority of them were urging Rory McIlroy to move to the PIF-funded circuit, all the while dubbing it a “smart” move by the 35-year-old.

Netizens tell Rory McIlroy to jump to LIV Golf

The recent major at Pinehurst No. 2 saw the likes of a LIV Golf pro emerge victorious over the talented field. That’s not all. Bryson Dechambeau managed to also dish out scintillating performances in the previous majors, including a T2 at the PGA Championship and a T6 at the Masters. A fan, consequently, couldn’t help but point out how the Saudi-backed league was better for golfers, as they commented, “LIV is a better product than PGAT and prepares players better for the majors. A great fit for Rory.”

The Northern Irishman had been leading the scorecard back at the 2024 U.S. Open at a point in time. He had a two-stroke lead against the likes of DeChambeau, following which the PGA Tour pro went ahead to miss the two putts on the par-4, 16 and the par-4, 18. This proved to be utterly heartbreaking for the golfer, as he swiftly left the course in his car. He followed the same with an announcement declaring his intention to take a break from the sport until the Scottish Genesis Open. Many followers, as a result of his recent loss, responded, “US Open broke him,” and “Can’t beat them join them.” The cream of the crop came when an enthusiast dubbed the move smart; “If Rory is smart, he played in his last PGAT tournament.”

The merger between the PIF and the PGA Tour is still ongoing, with the Transaction Subcommittee meeting the PIF officials on June 7. McIlroy himself was a part of the meet-up, which apparently talked about the future of golf. Moreover, a recent memo from the PGA Tour reiterated the need for more time to make the framework agreement a reality. Taking all of this into consideration, along with the immense money offered by LIV to top players, a follower reacted, “we’ll see! It makes sense for LIV. Does it make sense for Rory? If the tours align in some way going forward then it’s almost an irresistible offer, no? It’s a hella lotta cash.”

Meanwhile, neither Rory McIlroy nor the Saudi-backed league have confirmed any move towards each other. The recent speculations thus remain what it actually is—nothing short of rumors, with the fans urging the 4-time major champ to jump to the breakaway circuit. But will he jump? The answer is obvious for any McIlroy fan, isn’t it?