'We almost knew before LIV players did': McIlroy was aware of Saudi exit plans in March

LUCK OF THE IRISH: Rory McIlroy is bidding for a seventh major title this week. Pic: Carolyn Kaster/AP

Even in this era of post-peace, some wartime habits die hard. Saudi Arabia’s hostile takeover of golf looks to be essentially over, with its LIV venture facing a most bleak future.

Having long since moved towards diplomacy, Rory McIlroy has not been too quick to explicitly revel in its downfall. 

But as he kicked off his week at the year’s second major in Philadelphia on Tuesday morning, the one-time leader of the PGA Tour’s resistance did take some pokes and jabs at those who jumped ship for Saudi riches and now are desperately seeking life rafts.

McIlroy jumped straight from his car into the interview room at Aronimink Golf Club for an early morning catch-up with the media and was a solid few minutes through before the subject of the Saudis’ Public Investment Fund was brought up.

“Yessss. Love talking about this Bob,” McIlroy smiled with a super-sized helping of irony at veteran reporter Bob Harig.

In the hectic days when a stunning pact was agreed between LIV and the PGA Tour, the Saudis swung from enemies to possible investors and McIlroy had strongly backed the idea of their billions streaming into the sport. 

Now that they have abruptly turned off the taps altogether, the Masters champion was comfortable admitting he’d erred.

“I'm glad I was wrong. I can admit when I'm wrong, and that was one that I did get wrong,” said McIlroy, who has shown both more of a grip on geopolitics and its impacts on sport as well as a willingness to discuss same. “I think it was always a possibility to happen. Look, I think everyone knows like with everything that's happening in the Middle East, that had a lot to do; but whenever you have funding tied so much to the geopolitical landscape in the world, that's a tricky road to navigate.” 

Rory McIlroy at the PGA Championship today, on LIV Golf losing its PIF funding:

"I feel like a lot of us in this room, including me, we almost knew before the players did that this was going to happen. Like I was hearing about this back in March, April time." pic.twitter.com/1LtNtiqCGn

— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) May 12, 2026

This was where McIlroy appeared to enjoy himself a little — suggesting that both he and some members of golf’s press pack were aware of Saudi intentions to cut the cord before the pros currently employed by LIV did.

“Their priorities shifted, and that leaves LIV in a pretty precarious spot, but again, that was always a possibility,” he added. “I feel like a lot of us in this room, including me, we almost knew before the players did that this was going to happen. I was hearing about this back in March, April time.

“I have friends over there. One of my best friends, Ricky [McCormick], caddies for Tom McKibbin, who's over there, and I would talk to him all the time about what was going on. I was saying to Ricky, even before Mexico, Have you guys heard any of this stuff? He was like, No, everything seems okay over here. It just feels like the rug was pulled from under their feet and everyone was sort of blind sided by it.

“But again, that's the risk that those guys chose to take. As I said, it leaves…a lot of uncertainty in the air right now.

"I'm not privy to the deals they have. I guess from what I read they've got some sponsorship revenue for I don't know how long that those commitments are. If they do somehow get a schedule together for next year, it seems like it's going to look drastically different to what it's looked like over the last four years.” 

McIlroy arrived in Newtown Square, about 40km north of Philadelphia on Monday but had already done a recce trip to Aronimink Golf Club, flying up a few weeks ago in the wake of his back-to-back triumph at Augusta, taking his major tally to six.

“I probably spent five hours on the golf course, headed back to the airport and flew home. It was just I wanted to just get an early look because I knew that was going to be my only opportunity to do so,” said McIlroy, who had last visited the course when it hosted a PGA Tour stop in 2018.

“I think there's an argument to maybe not having these Signature Events the week before majors or the weeks after majors to allow guys to maybe prep for the major championships a little bit better. I definitely think courses we don't see very often, whether it's here or Shinnecock or Frisco, it certainly has benefited me over the years. I remember the first time I did it for a major championship was Congressional in 2011 on the back of a recommendation from Jack Nicklaus. So it's helped me over the years.

“It also gives me the ability to go home on Sunday night, see Erica and Poppy yesterday, and then come up here and not feel stressed about having to play a lot of holes or get up here early. I can take more of a relaxed approach going into the week.” 

Professionally, McIlroy has taken a relaxed approach since Augusta, skipping three weeks on tour, including two signature events before returning at Quail Hollow last week where he was up and down but finished impressively. Personally, things have been busier. 

McIlroy attended a White House dinner in honour of King Charles’ state visit and his cameo in The Devil Wears Prada sequel hit the silver screens too.

“I know how fortunate I am and so lucky to be in this position in life, and sometimes you have to enjoy the perks because I know that this isn't going to last forever,” he added. "There's going to be a day where I'm not sitting up here and I'm not competing for major championships and I'm not doing what I'm doing. So I guess while I'm doing it, I have to enjoy it, as well.

“It's been amazing, but there's still a lot of things I want to achieve. But if I can enjoy it along the way, that's a nice thing to do.”