Rory McIlroy tells PGA Tour chiefs to let LIV Golf rebels come back in dramatic U-turn.

Rory McIlroy tells PGA Tour chiefs to let LIV Golf rebels come back in a dramatic U-turn after seeing fellow Ryder Cup teammates Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton jump ship to LIV

Rory McIlroy has softened his stance on how the PGA Tour should treat his peers who have left to join LIV Golf and has urged the tour to let the LIV defectors return punishment-free.

McIlroy has once again expressed his more lenient view on the repercussions that those who switch sides should encounter, after his European Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton agreed to a contract worth £50 million to join the Saudi Arabian-supported league.

“He expressed his view on Hatton’s decision to join LIV by stating that life revolves around the choices we make,” he stated on Tuesday. “Various individuals opted to go and play for LIV, while others chose to remain here. If individuals still possess the eligibility to participate in this tour and wish to return and play, or if they have a desire to pursue something else, they should be allowed to come back.”

“I mean, I don’t – I don’t think – I think it’s hard to punish people. I don’t think there should be a punishment for – obviously I’ve changed my tune on that because I see where golf is and I see that having a diminished PGA Tour and having a diminished LIV Tour or anything else is bad for both parties.

“It would be much better being together and moving forward together for the good of the game. That’s my opinion of it.”

McIlroy’s change of heart comes after speaking with Hatton about his decision to leave the PGA Tour and join Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII roster. It was reported that Hatton originally was concerned about his status for the 2025 Ryder Cup, as those who join LIV are banned and fined by the DP World Tour.

However, Rahm spoke privately with Hatton, and though it was unclear what the topic of conversation was about, the Telegraph reports that Hatton was comfortable enough with what the Spaniard shared with him, thus paving the way for his defection. What’s more, in the days leading up to Hatton’s defection, Rahm had nothing but great things to say about his teammate and also shared how his defection could cause him to miss out on the Ryder Cup

“Tyrrell is a fierce competitor, proven champion, and of course my Ryder Cup teammate,” Rahm said in a statement welcoming the Brit to his team. “My position for the Ryder Cup remains the same. I’ve explained many times how meaningful it is to me and I hope I can be in future editions.

It’s a big risk to take. That’s not up to me right now but, if it was up to me, I’ll be eligible to play so I surely hope I can keep up the good golf and give them reasons to have me on the team.”

With Rahm, and now Hatton, unable to participate in the Ryder Cup because of their affiliation with LIV Golf, McIlroy explained in late 2023 how the rules would need to be changed for Rahm to play for the European Team. “Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025,” he said to Sky Sports.

As a result of this choice, the European Tour will be required to revise the eligibility criteria for the Ryder Cup. Without a doubt, Jon Rahm is a definite inclusion in the upcoming Ryder Cup team. It is uncertain whether McIlroy’s viewpoint towards LIV, who he has strongly criticized, will alter if additional golfers from the PGA Tour join the Saudi-backed circuit, which has already witnessed many of his teammates departing.