The PGA Tour may have benefited long-term after being woken up by LIV Golf, according to Rory McIlroy, who has endorsed the Saudi-backed league for how it appeals to younger fans

Rory McIlroy has admitted that LIV Golf ‘woke up’ the PGA Tour(Image: Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy admits LIV Golf has been a significant disruptor in golf and suggests it has handed the PGA Tour a “wake-up call.”

McIlroy remains a loyal PGA Tour member, and initially was a harsh critic after LIV Golf was formed and began poaching some of the best professionals with lucrative contracts. McIlroy’s firm stance has weakened in recent months, and now the Northern Irish golfer has admitted that the competition may have benefited the PGA Tour moving forward.

The PGA Tour and LIV Golf remain locked in negotiations over a potential merger agreement, though a breakthrough isn’t expected until at least 2026, if at all. However, McIlroy believes that the PGA Tour began thinking more strategically after being challenged and has even proposed a short-term solution.

In an interview on the ‘How Leaders Lead with David Novak’ podcast, McIlroy admitted that LIV Golf may not be as bad for the sport as he first feared. “They’ve definitely been a disruptor in the game of golf, he said.

“Sometimes things need a shakeup and if anything, I think it was a bit of a wake-up call for the PGA Tour to maybe focus a little bit more on the future.”

McIlroy also suggested that the PGA Tour should learn from LIV Golf to attract younger fans. The PGA Tour is still the most-watched golf platform, but it’s believed most fans are older than those who tune into LIV Golf.

Rory McIlroy sees a world where some #LIVGolf teams are participating in TGL, and some TGL teams send out guys for some LIV Golf events.

Not sure exactly how something like this would shape up, with the LIV team championship, but team golf is here to stay even with a deal! pic.twitter.com/vw8qj3M5s2

— Tee Times (@TeeTimesPub) August 1, 2025

“I think tapping into a different demographic,” McIlroy added. “You know, if you talk about being a golf purist and a traditionalist, and I think that’s why the PGA Tour appeals to that type of golf fan.

“Where LIV (Golf) appeals to a completely different demographic … the average age of a golfer in the United States is over 60 years old. So, how can you tap into this younger demographic where hopefully they’re gonna hopefully gonna watch golf for, you know, the remainder of their life?

“So, being a little more forward-thinking and having a little more vision. I think it is something that LIV (Golf) has done pretty well.”

McIlroy, who co-founded TGL alongside Tiger Woods, which debuted earlier this year, has also hinted that LIV players could feature on the new golf platform. The TGL roster is exclusively made up of PGA Tour members, but McIlroy believes that he could help bridge the gap temporarily.

McIlroy and Tiger Woods debuted TGL this year(Image: Getty Images)

“We have TGL, which is purely PGA Tour players,” McIlroy said. “But if there’s a way to expand team golf and try to make it this bigger entity… TGL can have some of the LIV guys come over and play with their teams.

“Then, maybe LIV, more on the back end of the year like post-summer, have some of the TGL teams start to play in some of the LIV-type tournaments. It’s a bridge. I don’t know if that would be the permanent solution.

“It seems like the team element is something very important for the LIV people, so if you can try and incorporate more of that team golf within the entire calendar year, that’s sort of a win for them. Also, if you can put everything back together a little bit… I think those tournaments (PGA Tour) would benefit from having those guys (LIV Golfers) there.

“It’s a long road, I don’t think we are going to see anything materialize until at least 2026. I know that people are putting their heads together and trying to figure this out. So, there’s hope.”