McIlroy says LIV Golf squandered resources amid player exodus

Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy has issued a sharp rebuke of LIV Golf's financial management, characterizing the league's spending as profligate amid ongoing turmoil within the circuit. McIlroy's comments come as LIV Golf navigates the fallout from its bankruptcy filing, which has triggered a wave of departures by marquee players seeking alternative opportunities.

Several prominent golfers have already announced their exit from the Saudi-backed league since the bankruptcy announcement. Spanish duo Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia are among the notable names to have departed, signalling growing uncertainty about the venture's viability.

McIlroy, who has remained on the traditional PGA Tour, suggested he would be open to welcoming LIV players back to mainstream professional golf. His remarks reflect broader industry speculation about potential consolidation within professional golf as the landscape continues to shift following LIV's troubled inaugural years.

The bankruptcy filing represents a significant setback for the league, which launched with considerable financial backing and high-profile defections from established tours. The exodus of players underscores mounting doubts about LIV Golf's business model and long-term sustainability in a fractured professional golf ecosystem.