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The second-best golf player in the world, Rory McIlroy, says he plans to stay with the PGA Tour for the rest of his career after rumours swirled about a possible move to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf.

According to a British news outlet, McIlroy had been offered $850 million (R16.2 billion) from the league – along with a 2% equity stake. But the pro golfer says it is all nonsense, as he’s not going anywhere.

“I honestly don’t know how these things get started,” McIlroy told Golf Channel while on the practice range at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the site of this week’s RBC Heritage.

“I’ve never been offered a number from LIV, and I’ve never contemplated going to LIV. Again, I think I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me.”

McIlroy, who’s won 24 tour events and four majors, has made no secret of his dislike of LIV Golf over the past few years.

“I hate LIV,” McIlroy told reporters at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open in Toronto last June. “Like, I hate LIV. Like, I hope it goes away.”

Initially in conflict with the PGA Tour, the league, which Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund finances, signed a framework agreement over the summer that would create an alliance between the two. A final agreement has yet to be reached, though, and the framework version was extended in December.

That hasn’t stopped LIV Golf from poaching PGA players, with Jon Rahm—who was at the time ranked No. 3 in the world—leaving for LIV Golf in a $350 million (R6.5 billion) deal. Honestly, can we blame him?

McIlroy is however a bit more chilled about the Saudi league and those who decide to play in it after a meeting between the two leagues in March.

“It doesn’t mean that I judge people who have gone and played over there,” he said. “I think one of the things that I have realized over the past two years is that people can make their own decisions for whatever they think is best for themselves, and who are we to judge them for that? But personally, for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour, and it’s never been any different.”

He said he’d play the PGA Tour for the rest of his career. Fair enough. After all, just how much money is enough?

[source:robbreport&espn]