Good riddance LIV Golf, this is another reason why Rory McIlroy will go down in history

Apr 16, 2026 - 11:45

When Jon Rahm eventually walks back to the PGA Tour with his tail between his legs, Rory McIlroy ought to have a smug grin on his face.

Because when books get written and documentaries get made about LIV Golf, they will say McIlroy was on the right side of history.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland holds the trophy wearing his Green Jacket at the presentation after the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament — McIlroy’s week just got even better

The Northern Irishman recently cemented his legacy as the greatest player of the post-Tiger Woods era, claiming a sixth major by successfully defending the Masters, adding to his career grand slam.

And just when McIlroy probably thought things could not get any better, the thing he despises most in all of golf came crumbling down, just days later.

LIV Golf’s sugar daddy has reportedly decided it doesn’t want to bankroll Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and co. anymore.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund, which has poured around $5billion into the breakaway league since its inception in 2022, is expected to pull its funding at the end of this season.

Even those with the deepest pockets don’t like setting money on fire.

LIV Golf’s CEO Scott O’Neil insisted the project will continue ‘as planned and uninterrupted’ in a memo to players and staff.

But someone will have to pick up the monstrous bill – and it is difficult to see why anyone would.

If they do make a documentary about LIV Golf, it will look a lot like the one about that calamitous Fyre Festival.

The Saudis were trying to buy disruption, influence, and a seat at the table with professional golf’s establishment.

Instead, they bought the world’s most expensive jar of irrelevance.

DeChambeau, undoubtedly one of the world’s best players, tees it up in Mexico City for yet another meaningless LIV event this week

Nobody ever took it seriously: from sponsors and broadcasters, to the Official World Golf Ranking board and golf fans.

Everyone saw through the gimmicks – the 54 holes, the shotgun starts, the shorts.

In the end, its only purpose was to make rich men absurdly richer.

And here’s the thing. Nobody watches the Champions League final and says, ‘How much do the winners get paid?’

This was golf’s equivalent of blasting ‘North London Forever’ at the Emirates and pretending Arsenal have an iconic football anthem.

While Rahm and Sergio Garcia did their best impression of a multi-millionaire victim, McIlroy called it for what it was.

Jon Rahm during the Masters — Rahm recently struggled to make the cut at the Masters, while McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler finished in the top two

With his public damnation of the league, McIlroy stood up for what matters in sport.

It’s not melodramatic to say he put his reputation on the line to stop golf from falling into the wrong hands.

If LIV Golf was the European Super League, McIlroy was the fan protesting outside a ‘big six’ stadium.

The 36-year-old eventually softened his stance and said he was far too wealthy to judge others for chasing the bag.

But nobody just gave McIlroy his riches. He earned it. That’s the whole point. Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler understood it too. Their problem was LIV Golf’s total lack of sporting integrity.

It was different for the golfers who wanted to sail off into the sunset after a competitive career. Your Ian Poulters and Lee Westwoods.

Justin Rose reacts during the Masters — Rose has challenged at majors and re-established himself as a Ryder Cup superstar since turning down LIV Golf

Like Premier League players going to America for their swansong, that was fine. Although it should be noted that Justin Rose decided to say no – and look at him now.

But Rahm, DeChambeau, Cam Smith, Tyrrell Hatton and Dustin Johnson should hang their heads in shame.

At least Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed were smart enough to change their minds.

For top players, the choice was simple: compete at the highest level and continue to be rich, or trade that in and become filthy rich.

Rahm finishes in the top five every single week on LIV Golf but hasn’t competed at the majors for two years. What does that tell you?

The two-time major champion is a particularly damning case because the ramifications had already been laid out when he left the PGA Tour.

General view of LIV Golf Mexico City — There will be an unusual atmosphere at LIV Mexico City after 24 hours of whirlwind reports

We knew there were no OWGR points on LIV Golf, we knew there would be a PGA Tour suspension, we knew there were DP World Tour sanctions.

The Spaniard joined at a time when the PGA Tour was considering a merger, perhaps thinking he could collect his £300m bonus without any lasting consequence for his career. He was wrong.

Even funnier now is the thought of Rahm now being forced to play on the DP World Tour for a year to regain his PGA Tour status – after throwing a tantrum about having to play six DP World Tour events to maintain his Ryder Cup status.

And all of this raises a greater question about why athletes compete.

For McIllroy, it’s that conversation people will have in 50 years’ time, when he’s long gone.

He knows they won’t waste too much time on details.

“Rory?” They’ll say. “Oh yeah, he won the career grand slam and went back-to-back at the Masters.”

What will they say about Rahm?

One thing’s for sure: it won’t have anything to do with his bank balance.