Rory McIlroy cast doubt on Wednesday over the notion that Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau would enhance the PGA Tour should they choose to rejoin it. Speaking at the BMW Championship, the Northern Irishman delivered a sharp riposte when pressed on what the pair might contribute.
"I mean, I'd argue have they brought value to LIV?" McIlroy said.
The four-time major winner added that he believes the PGA Tour is currently in a strong position without them. He acknowledged that reunification could eventually benefit the sport, but appeared far less enthusiastic than he has in the past.
"I'm pretty sure they're not going to be welcomed back straight away," McIlroy said, warning that any future return deal would be less favourable than the terms already offered.
The scrutiny surrounding LIV Golf's viability has intensified, with this week's event near Indianapolis set to be the final one backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. The league has lost its primary source of financing.
LIV chief executive Scott O'Neil was due to provide an update on what lies ahead for the breakaway circuit. The league has reportedly secured an agreement with a new lead investor and intends to overhaul its operational model.
Recent reports have further fuelled speculation about the circuit's direction. The Telegraph reported that Rahm is planning to leave LIV, whilst Tee Times suggested the Spaniard is eyeing a PGA Tour comeback.
Brooks Koepka blazed the trail as the first LIV defector to return to the PGA Tour this year.
His comeback came with significant conditions: exclusion from the $20 million signature events unless he qualified on merit, a $5 million charitable contribution, and no access to equity in the tour. The PGA Tour valued the total penalty at $50 million or more.
Rahm, DeChambeau and Cameron Smith — all of whom won majors since LIV launched in 2022 — were subsequently presented with identical terms. They were given a fortnight to accept or decline.
McIlroy suggested that window has effectively closed on those conditions.
"The deal that they might get going forward, if they do decide to come back, isn't going to be as good as the one that Brooks got," he said.
Scottie Scheffler, who claimed victory at the St. Jude Championship on Sunday by an eight-shot margin, took a more measured view.
The world number one recognised that LIV's roster includes genuine talent worth bringing back into the fold.
"I think the depth that we have on our tour is unmatched, but I think when you look at the higher levels of LIV Golf there's definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the tour, and guys that I love competing against as well," Scheffler said.
He was nonetheless firm that consequences must accompany any return.
"So I think going forward there obviously has to be, I think, some sort of penalties," he added.
Scheffler declined to specify what form those sanctions should take, saying that was a matter for PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp to determine.
McIlroy, who has been the most vocal PGA Tour loyalist since the split began, maintained his unwavering position on the breakaway league. "I've kept my position consistent that LIV has never been a good thing for the game," he said, adding: "Whatever 2.0 looks like, this is the best platform for the top professional golfers in the world."
He reserved particular criticism for Phil Mickelson's role in sparking the upheaval. McIlroy suggested the six-time major champion's dissatisfaction with the PGA Tour's handling of player rights and revenue could have been resolved through dialogue rather than defection.
"Phil was unhappy with some stuff or whatever it was," McIlroy said. "Surely that just warranted a conversation instead of blowing the entire professional game up and doing something else."
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