Rory McIlroy drops LIV Golf bombshell: “They wanted to destroy the European Tour”

Rory McIlroy has claimed that LIV Golf officials openly discussed their intentions to “destroy the European Tour” at Augusta during this year’s Masters tournament.

The six-time major champion has backed comments made by DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings, who alleged that LIV Golf had spent more than $7billion, with one of its main objectives to destroy the European Tour.

Kinnings made these statements in an interview with Martin Dempster of the Scotsman, while also offering insight into the future of the DPWT and questioning the sustainability of LIV Golf’s financial model.

Talking to the press ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship, the penultimate event of the 2026 season, McIlroy was asked whether he agreed with Kinnings’ assessment of LIV Golf.

“Yeah, I do. I do agree. Yeah, I do. I agree with everything that Guy said,” said McIlroy.

“They took players; they took sponsors; they turned professional golf into an arms race. They were going around Augusta saying they wanted to destroy The European Tour. Yeah, I agree with everything.

“I think people that don't agree are probably very shortsighted.”

McIlroy also suggested that the financial model operated by the breakaway tour was inevitably going to run into difficulties, especially considering just how much money was invested into the product.

“Again, this was always going to be the case. It was always going to be good for a few years until something like this happened, or they realised they weren't going to get any return on investment, or they were going to leave the golf space and go invest in something else and invest in something that would actually make them money.”

Rory McIlroy highlights LIV’s remarkable change of approach

Later in the press conference, the Northern Irishman continued to reiterate his support for Kinnings while even questioning LIV’s change in approach going forward.

“Yeah, I agree with Guy. They were going around at Augusta this year telling people that that's what they wanted to do.

“And then, it's ironic that a week later, now they are talking about completing and not competing and all that. That's different from what they were saying at the start of the year.

“I think everything that's transpired, a lot of the guys wanted to come back and play the DP World Tour. I think it puts this tour in a really strong position.”

Sergio Garcia announced recently that he is looking forward to returning to the DPWT in 2027 after departing LIV Golf, while players such as Charles Howell III David Puig aim to play on the circuit next year.

Given how many players haven’t signed up for LIV 2.0 plus significant changes coming to the PGA Tour from 2028, McIlroy has every right to believe that the DPWT is in a strong position heading into 2027.