Rory McIlroy has admitted that his hardline attitude towards LIV Golf and the players involved was out of line in a recent interview.
McIlroy has gone so far as to say he would consider taking part in LIV Golf if it took place in a specified window in an integrated golf season.
Further to this, McIlroy has fully backed the proposed merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV.
“I think at this point, I was maybe a little judgemental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the start,” McIlroy told Sky’s Stick to Football podcast.
“I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realise that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Wood’s position. I can’t judge people for making that decision, so if I regret anything, it was probably being too judgemental at the start.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve lost the fight against LIV, but I’ve just accepted the fact that this is part of our sport now.
“At the end of the day, we’re professional golfers, and we play to make a living and make money, so I understand it.”
McIlroy doesn’t feel that LIV Golfers should have carte blanche to trash talk the tours that established them as major players worthy of the mega paydays.
“I don’t begrudge anyone for going and taking the money and doing something different, but don’t try to burn the place down on your way out,” he added.
“When people have played that for 15 or 20 years, and then they jump to LIV and start talking crap about where they’ve come from, that is what bothers me, because they wouldn’t be in this position if they didn’t have the career they’ve had so far.
“I think what LIV has done… it’s exposed some of the flaws in the system and hopefully golf will have a look at more.
“If we’re going to ask these people (sponsors) for so much money, we need to be able to guarantee them what they’re getting.
“Part of the stuff that we’ve been trying to do for the last two years is figure out how we can try and bring golf back together again and learn from some of the things that have happened.”
McIlroy has now even lauded the business mind of Jon Rahm for taking a LIV deal that likely would not have been as sweet if the Spaniard waited another season.
“I thought it was a smart business move from Jon – it’s opportunistic,” he said.
“(He) hasn’t got any of the heat for going like the first guys got for going.
“Jon is a smart guy and I think he sees things coming together at some point. So he’s thinking that he’ll take the up-front money, which is his prerogative, and if things come together he’ll play LIV for a year then come back to play on the tour.”
McIlroy won’t turn out at the season-opening Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua despite being qualified for the event by virtue of his Scottish Open win and FedEx Cup position.
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