Rory McIlroy ‘could make LIV Golf switch’ claims former agent following change of heart

Rory McIlroy had been a long-time critic of LIV Golf, but after softening his stance in recent months, the PGA Tour loyalist has been backed to join the breakaway league.

Rory McIlroy has been backed to make a shock, mega-money move to LIV Golf by his former agent Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler.

During the early days of the league, McIlroy was known as one of the biggest critics of LIV, showing his loyalty to the PGA Tour during the conflict in golf.

However, in recent months, there has been a noticeable change in McIlroy’s attitude towards the rival circuit in an unexpected reversal.

As the new year began, the professional golfer, who has won four major championships, acknowledged that he may have been too critical of his peers who chose to switch from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to compete in Saudi Arabia.

He seemed prepared to embrace LIV as a legitimate part of the professional golfing world.

Recently, he made a new statement suggesting that athletes from the LIV program should be allowed to rejoin the PGA Tour without facing consequences for their earlier decision.

Chandler, someone familiar with him, believes that a complete change of opinion may be possible.

“If you were being cynical, you might say he’s going to sign for about £750 million in a month’s time with LIV because he’s paving the way that LIV’s okay now, whereas it wasn’t,” Chandler told Bunkered. “Who knows? He doesn’t need £750m but it’s odd what he’s done and I’m sure it’s a possibility.

“If he does it or not, I don’t know, but if [Jon] Rahm can do it, most guys can do it.” Weighing up what the chances are of his former client making the Saudi switch, the agent added: “I think number one, there’s a 10% possibility he’s favouring his way to sign for LIV, but he realises that the whole bickering and fighting is no good for golf.

“The man in the street must find it appalling the sums of money being spoken.”

McIlroy previously stated that he would prefer to retire than participate in the LIV circuit. However, he has recently softened his stance towards the league, especially after two of his Ryder Cup teammates, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, decided to join.

Rahm was the first person to make a significant move by signing a deal worth a reported £450 million in December. He created his own team called Legion XIII and recruited his Ryder Cup partner Hatton just before the start of the LIV campaign this month.

McIlroy expressed his approval of the consolidation of the sport at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, stating that it is beneficial for the game as a whole.

He emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation in order to advance and improve the quality of competitions.

McIlroy stressed the significance of reuniting and playing together to strengthen the field and elevate the level of competition in golf.

He believes that uniting and working together will result in better outcomes for the sport. McIlroy highlighted the need for all to come together and collaborate in order to achieve the highest quality of competition.

He emphasized the positive impact of a unified approach in enhancing the overall experience of golf tournaments. McIlroy underscored the advantages of solidarity and collaboration in creating a stronger field and promoting the growth of the game.

He emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation in order to advance and improve the quality of competitions.

McIlroy expressed his approval of the consolidation of the sport at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, stating that it is beneficial for the game as a whole. He highlighted the significance of working together and playing collectively to enhance the quality of competition in golf.

McIlroy stressed the importance of unity and cooperation to strengthen the field and elevate the level of competition. He believes that uniting and collaborating will lead to positive outcomes for the sport.

McIlroy emphasized the need for all stakeholders to join forces and work together for the betterment of golf. He pointed out the advantages of coming together and cooperating to enhance the experience of golf tournaments.

McIlroy emphasized the positive impact of a united front in creating a stronger field and promoting the growth of the game. He highlighted the benefits of solidarity and collaboration in improving the overall quality of golf competitions.