Rory McIlroy criticised by former Ryder Cup teammate over latest swipe at LIV Golf

Lee Westwood has hit back at Rory McIlroy after the Northern Irishman questioned what value LIV Golf players would bring to the PGA Tour if the breakaway league collapses.

Ahead of the BMW Championship, McIlroy warned LIV players they face "a long road back" to the PGA Tour if the embattled league ceases to exist.

Asked which players would "bring value" to the PGA Tour if that scenario materialises, the 37-year-old said: "I mean, I would argue, have they brought value to LIV, you know?"

McIlroy conceded LIV players would be permitted to return but stressed they may not be offered the same terms as Brooks Koepka, who quit the league last December and rejoined the PGA Tour a month later through its returning member programme.

"I really don't care what people think, to be perfectly honest," Westwood told TNT Sports when asked about the criticism he received for receiving an invite to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and McIlroy's comments. 

"I think it illustrates the fact that people like LIV players playing in their events, promoters and sponsors, no matter which tour they're on.

"They bring quality to tournaments.

"I heard Rory's comments yesterday. I thought Scottie [Scheffler] answered the question well, and Rory's answer was just typical of Rory, really.

"It wasn't well thought out. There are a lot of players on this tour who bring value to tournaments."

World number one Scheffler told reporters in his pre-tournament news conference at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis that he would welcome the opportunity of competing more regularly against the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. 

DeChambeau is desperate to see LIV Golf and admitted after the opening round at The Club at Chatham Hills that the league is "up against it" to secure its long-term future. 

"My wish is that people give us one more shot and be open-minded," a downbeat DeChambeau said. 

Telegraph Sport reported earlier in the month that LIV officials were "resigned" to losing Rahm, though, with the Spaniard eyeing up a return to the PGA Tour and their Championship Series in 2028. 

Scheffler said he no issue with LIV players crossing back over but stressed that penalties will need to be dished out. 

"What those are, I'll let [PGA Tour CEO Brian] Rolapp and all those guys figure it out," he said. 

"There's definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the Tour, and guys that I love competing against as well

"I think for me being able to compete against the best players in the world there's certainly some guys on that Tour that can compete out here and I look forward to the chance to compete with them more often."

What did Rory McIlroy say?

Before the first round of the BMW Championship, McIlroy was asked which players would "bring value" to the PGA Tour if LIV Golf ceases to exist. 

But McIlroy questioned whether those on the rival tour have brought value to LIV. 

"I think the PGA Tour's in a good spot," said McIlroy before charging into the first-round lead.

McIlroy also predicted it may be tougher for the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau to cross back over. 

"I'm not part of the discussions but I'm pretty sure they aren't going to be welcomed back straight away," said McIlroy. 

"They were offered this returning member programme back in February, the one Brooks [Koepka] took, but that has come and gone and I think it was said at the time that the deal they get going forward if they decide to come back would not be as good at the one Brooks got. So I'd say it will be a tough road back."

McIlroy reiterated his stance that he believes LIV Golf has not been good for the game but also expressed sympathy with the prospect of their employees losing jobs. 

"Whatever [LIV] 2.0 looks like, they say they're trying to be more collaborative and all that, but this is the best platform for top professional golfers in the world," he said. 

"Were there some things at the start of LIV the PGA Tour could have done better? Sure, but I think if you look back to the start and the guys who went - Phil [Mickleson] was unhappy with some stuff or whatever it was - surely that just warranted a conversation instead of blowing the entire professional game up and doing something else.

"I don't take any personal satisfaction from people losing jobs - that doesn't seem right - but I have always felt this is the best place to play professional golf and I'm pretty sure if the PGA Tour was handed $6bn (£4.4bn) it would have done a better job than LIV."