LIV fans around the world, disappointed by the performance of LIV golfers at the Masters this past weekend, quickly recovered Monday morning when news broke that world ranked #2 golfer Rory McIlroy was on the verge of signing a record deal to leave the PGA Tour and join the rival tour. Reporters Frank Dalleres and Matt Hardy of CITY A.M., a London based business paper, citing “two separate [unnamed] sources,” stated that “a deal is close.” According to Dalleres and Hardy, the price for McIlroy’s jump to LIV? $850,000,000.00 AND a 2% equity stake in the LIV tour.
Social Media went wild when the “story” broke. If you think politics is divisive in the US at the moment, it is nothing compared to the ongoing divide between LIV and PGA Tour supporters on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit. LIV backers on X quickly jumped on the story declaring that “this is the end of the PGA Tour,” “Rory was always going to join LIV…” and “now we know why [Greg] Norman was following Rory’s group at the Masters.” PGA Tour fans were equally forceful in their responses. “Nice try clowns,” “the wishful thinking of LIV cult members and media is hilarious” and “laughable.” The back and forth quickly devolved into what is now the usual name calling ridiculousness. Many on the PGA Tour side of the argument speculate that the story was a “LIV plant” to deflect from “LIV’s poor performance at Augusta.”
The bubble burst quite quickly on this rumor. Early Tuesday morning on the range at this week’s RBC Heritage, Rory gave an interview to Todd Lewis of Golf Channel’s Golf Central and was asked about the viral social media story. Laughing, Rory responded, “I honestly don’t know how these things get started. I’ve never been offered a number from LIV. I’ve never contemplated going to LIV.” “Personally for me my future is here on the PGA Tour and its never been any different.” Rory had no idea as to where the rumor started.
On what should have been the days celebrating a great week at the Masters and Scottie Scheffler’s second green jacket, the golf world was forced again to deal with yet another LIV defection rumor. Where the rumor started we shall probably never know. Even the authors of the original story buried deep in their reporting that, “It has not been possible to verify the claims.” Perhaps next time a similar rumor pops up, people will take a step back, breathe and wait for concrete facts from the parties involved. But that is highly doubtful. In any event, golf will remain divided and the “war” between the PGA Tour and Liv shall continue. Both on and off the course.
