Rory McIlroy has not quashed rumours that he could make a move to rival golf format LIV Golf one day. Last week, the Holywood native's former agent, Chubby Chandler, made comments about the potential switch that would rock the world of golf.
"Rory is of the ilk that he’ll say something because he likes to have an opinion, but he’s quite happy to apologise for it, and that’s what he’s done. If you were being cynical, you might say he’s going to sign for about £750 million [$950 million] in a month’s time with LIV because he’s paving the way that LIV’s okay now, whereas it wasn’t," to golfing publication Bunkered.
"Who knows? He doesn’t need £750 million [$950 million], but it’s odd what he’s done, and I’m sure it’s a possibility. If he does it or not, I don’t know, but if Rahm can do it, most guys can do it."
Chandler was Rory McIlroy's first manager when he became a professional in 2007. Their relationship lasted until 2011, when the Northern Irishman was already a star and had won his first major.
McIlroy has been a long-standing opponent of the Saudi-led LIV Golf format and its CEO, Greg Norman, because of the disruption to the traditional tours, the PGA Tour, and the DP World Tour.
Rory addresses the LIV rumour pic.twitter.com/1jwQSb7r9f
— Rory Tracker (@RoryTrackr) February 28, 2024
Elite golfers like Phil Mickelson made the initial switch, and his move was followed by the likes of Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm, Tyrell Hatton, and others who have also followed suit. This caused huge tensions between the players who went and stayed loyal.
Tensions have cooled since then, and Northern Ireland golfer McIlroy even admitted he could have been "a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the start."
The four-time major champion, speaking on Thursday, did not completely dismiss the idea ahead of the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and was asked what percentage it would take for him to join.
"Somewhere in the middle, maybe. Who knows?" said McIlroy. "I think he’s writing a book, so there is that. I spoke to Chubby; I might have seen him in the Middle East at the start of the year," he said.
"Never know. He might know a few things. Who knows?"
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