Rory McIlroy reignites Phil Mickelson feud with savage LIV Golf comments

Rory McIlroy took a fresh swipe at Phil Mickelson as he warned LIV Golf players potentially hoping to return to the PGA Tour in the future face "a tough road back". 

The breakaway tour, which launched in 2022, faces an uncertain future after Saudi Arabia's PIF confirmed in April it would no longer bankroll the venture. 

LIV Golf say they have found a new investor to take the league forward next season with a trimmed down schedule but, according to their chief executive Scott O'Neil, face a race against time to get the transaction finalised.

O'Neil confirmed to reporters on Wednesday that the deal with the new investor - understood to be London-based private equity firm BC Partners - does hinge on players committing to LIV Golf 2.0.

It may well be the case that LIV's season finale this week in Indianapolis might be their swansong. 

Should the scenario materialise, there could be dozens of golfers hoping to return to the PGA Tour. 

But McIlroy told reporters before the BMW Championship when asked if LIV Golf players should be allowed back: "I mean, I would argue, have they brought value to LIV? You know? 

"I think the PGA Tour's in a really good spot."

McIlroy continued: "Look, eventually they will [be welcomed back]. I'm not part of these discussions, but I'm pretty sure they're not going to be welcomed back straight away." 

Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour in January via a hastily-enacted returning member programme. 

Koepka quit LIV in December 2025, several months before his contract officially expired. 

He has vowed to never publicly discuss the terms of his exit. 

The American is among the more popular players amongst the PGA Tour membership and his first phone call to enquire about returning was to Tiger Woods. 

Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith were also eligible but rejected the offer. 

"If they were offered this returning member program back in February, the one that Brooks [Koepka] took, then yeah, maybe, but that has come and gone," said McIlroy. 

"I think it was said at the time that the deal that they might get going forward, if they do decide to come back, isn't going to be as good as the one that Brooks got. 

"I would say it's going to be a tough, tough road back."

Should LIV Golf continue, the league is expected to play just 10 events in 2027 - down from 14. 

Prize purses are also expected to be trimmed. 

O'Neil stressed that he wants LIV Golf to be collaborative with others tours in the future.

"I think I feel like I've kept my position consistent that LIV has never been a good thing for the game," McIlroy explained. 

"Whatever 2.0 looks like, if it even happens, they say they're trying to be more collaborative and all that.

"This [PGA Tour] is the best platform for the top professional golfers in the world. 

"Were there some things at the start of LIV that the PGA Tour could have done better? Sure.

"You think back to the start with say, Phil [Mickelson] 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?"

McIlroy said he doesn't take satisfaction from the prospect of LIV employees losing their jobs. 

"That doesn't seem right," he said. 

He added: "I've always felt like this is the best place to play professional golf. 

"I'm pretty sure if the PGA Tour were handed six billion dollars it would have done a better job with it."

McIlroy wasn't the only high-profile player asked about LIV Golf's dicey situation. 

World number one Scottie Scheffler said there are certainly players that would provide a lot value to the PGA Tour. 

But he wants to see consequences.  

"There obviously has to be some sort of penalties," said Scheffler. 

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

"Whatever happens with LIV, whether those guys want to leave, you've got to ask them."