Rory McIlroy believes the high-profile return of Brooks Koepka to the PGA Tour could be a sign that LIV Golf is losing momentum, claiming the Saudi-backed circuit has failed to attract players capable of truly changing the balance of power in men’s professional golf.
Koepka, a five-time major champion, has rejoined the PGA Tour after controversially defecting to LIV Golf in 2022. His decision comes with significant financial and professional penalties, but McIlroy views the move as symbolic of a broader shift in the sport.
Koepka’s PGA Tour Return and the Cost of Coming Back
Koepka, now 35, has agreed to a series of conditions as part of his reinstatement on the PGA Tour:
- A $5 million (£3.7m) charitable donation
- No eligibility for FedExCup bonus payments during the 2026 season
- Exclusion from the PGA Tour’s player equity programme between 2026 and 2030
The equity programme alone could have been worth between $50m and $85m, underlining the scale of Koepka’s sacrifice to return to the traditional tour structure.
Despite those concessions, his move has been widely interpreted as a significant moment in the ongoing rivalry between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
McIlroy: LIV Golf Is Losing Its Pull
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, McIlroy suggested Koepka’s departure highlights a lack of progress in LIV Golf’s recruitment strategy.
“It’s not as if they made any huge signings this year, is it?” McIlroy said.
“They haven’t signed anyone who moves the needle and I don’t think they will.”
The Northern Irishman, who made history as the first European to complete the career Grand Slam, questioned whether even retaining existing stars would meaningfully improve LIV’s product.
“They could re-sign Bryson for hundreds of millions of dollars, but even if they do, it doesn’t change their product, does it?” he added.
“They’ll just be paying for the exact same thing. And they’ve lost Brooks.”
McIlroy has long been one of LIV Golf’s most vocal critics, consistently defending the PGA Tour’s competitive structure, history, and pathway for elite golfers.
LIV Stars Staying Put — But No New Blockbusters
While LIV Golf still boasts major champions such as Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith, all three have indicated they intend to remain with the breakaway league.
However, the absence of major new signings in recent seasons has raised questions about whether LIV’s initial recruitment drive — fuelled by enormous guaranteed contracts — has run its course.
McIlroy’s comments suggest he believes LIV Golf may now be struggling to justify further huge investments without fundamentally changing its format or appeal.
Wyndham Clark ‘Torn’ Over Koepka’s Return
Koepka’s comeback has also sparked debate among fellow players.
Former US Open champion Wyndham Clark, who played alongside Koepka at the 2023 Ryder Cup, admitted to mixed feelings about the decision.
“I personally really like Brooks, and I think it’s ultimately really good for the PGA Tour,” Clark said.
“But it’s also kind of frustrating that he’s able to have his cake and eat it.”
Clark revealed that he himself had been approached by LIV Golf but chose to stay loyal to the PGA Tour — a decision he now views through a more complicated lens.
“I had the offer. It was just over a year and a half ago,” he said.
“If you told me I could have gone for a year and a half, made a boatload of money, and then come back and play on the Tour, I think almost everyone would have done that.”
What Koepka’s Move Means for Golf’s Power Struggle
Koepka’s return does not mark the end of LIV Golf, but it does represent a notable psychological moment in the sport’s ongoing civil war.
For the PGA Tour, reclaiming one of the most successful major champions of the modern era reinforces its status as golf’s primary competitive arena.
For LIV Golf, losing a marquee name — without replacing him with an equivalent global draw — strengthens the perception that its influence may have peaked.
McIlroy’s View: The Needle Isn’t Moving Anymore
McIlroy’s verdict is clear: without fresh star power or meaningful evolution, LIV Golf risks stagnation.
Whether Koepka’s return proves to be an isolated case or the beginning of a wider trend remains to be seen. But for now, McIlroy believes the momentum has shifted — and that the most important moves in men’s golf are once again happening on the PGA Tour.
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