Rory McIlroy Has Surprising Change of Heart Toward LIV Golf and PGA Defectors: ‘I Can’t Judge People For Making That Decision’

In an unexpected turn of events, Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy has begun to soften his stance on LIV Golf after previously being one of its biggest opponents.

Since the inception of the rival golf tour, McIlroy has consistently criticized it for a litany of reasons. In addition to questioning the format of play, the golfer has been against Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which funds and operates LIV.

Even when it was revealed the PGA Tour and PIF would join forces, McIlroy reiterated that he hated LIV.

Now, it seems he views the tour with less animosity. McIlroy recently joined the Stick to Football podcast and admitted he may have rushed to judgment on the rival tour and the golfers who’ve defected to LIV Golf — including his friend Jon Rahm.

“I don’t feel like I’ve lost the fight, but I’ve just accepted the fact that this is part of our sport now,” McIlroy said.

In December, it was reported that Rahm was the latest golfer to make the switch to LIV. While McIlroy had harshly criticized other PGA pros who had done the same, he took a more gentle approach to Rahm and offered him nothing but praise while still being disappointed.

McIlroy called his previous judgment of defecting players was a “mistake.”

“I think at this point, I was probably judgmental of the guys that went at the start,” he said, “and I think that was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realize not everyone’s in my position or in Tiger [Woods’] position. And you get this offer and what do you do?

“We all turn professional to make a living playing the sports that we do. I think that’s what I realized over the last two years. I can’t judge people for making that decision. So, if I regret anything , it was probably being too judgmental at the start.”