McIlroy Supports DP World Tour Policy Allowing Former LIV Members to Return

Rory McIlroy endorsed the DP World Tour's 2027 re-entry policy for former members during the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.

Rory McIlroy expressed support Wednesday at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship for the DP World Tour’s decision to allow former members who left for LIV Golf to return in 2027. The move follows the April withdrawal of funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which previously supported LIV Golf purses of $30 million. DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings issued an ultimatum to players regarding the new policy, stating they must choose to play on one circuit rather than both.

Kinnings reported that the tour faced an existential threat from an entity that spent over $7 billion with the stated goal of destroying the European circuit. To combat this competition, the PGA Tour provided more than $77 million to the DP World Tour to supplement 2025 prize money. While golfers such as Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia are among those eligible to return under the 2027 invite policy, McIlroy noted that the professional game requires a "reset" to move away from the "false economy" created by guaranteed contracts exceeding $100 million.

LIV Golf 2.0, led by CEO Scott O'Neil, plans to operate with fewer tournaments and reduced purses moving forward. McIlroy argued that the previous "arms race" for talent provided players with unsustainable leverage that threatened the long-term health of the professional tours. As the PIF threat diminishes, the DP World Tour is currently evaluating whether to reduce its total number of tournaments or shift focus toward the Rolex Series and various national opens.