RORY McIlroy’s former agent claims it’s possible the four-time major winner could make a move to LIV Golf in the future.
The Holywood hotshot has completed an astonishing u-turn regarding LIV Golf in recent months.
McIlroy was once the most vocal critic of the Greg Norman led rebel tour, and claimed last summer that he would “rather retire” than play on the Saudi-funded breakaway tour.
Two weeks ago, McIlroy continued to soften his stance on players switching to LIV Golf League as he now believes they should be offered a punishment-free pathway back to the PGA Tour.
And now his ex-manager reckons the Northern Irish star could eventually make a move to LIV Golf in the future.
Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler represented the County Down man at the start of his career, reckons that a switch could be an “ok” move to make now.
Speaking on a podcast, he recently said: “I’m sure it’s a possibility.
“If he does it or not, I don’t know – but if [Jon] Rahm can do it – most guys can do it.
“I think number one – there’s a 10 percent possibility, that in the future he could, but he realises that the whole bickering and fighting is no good for golf.
“The man in the street must find it appalling, the sums of money being spoken.
MC MOVE?
Chandler also claimed that he wasn’t surprised with McIlroy’s astonishing change of stance regarding the PIF-backed breakaway league before explaining why.
He added: “It’s typical Ror – Rory is not shy in having an opinion and not slow to apologise if he’s got that wrong.
“When he turned pro in 2008 we were sat on a bench at Gleneagles, and I had Rory telling me that the Ryder Cup meant nothing at all to him.
“It was just an exhibition match. I’m here to win majors. There’s nobody bigger into the Ryder Cup now than Rory McIlroy.”
Sports Illustrated recently claimed that McIlroy has left a group chat that included some of the PGA’s best players before a ‘tense hour-long phone call with Jordan Spieth.
Rors had been due to serve on the board as player chairman until the end of 2024 but resigned from that position.
The PGA Tour remain in talks with LIV Golf and its Saudi financial backers over a possible merger.
But little progress has been made between the rival organisations since last June.
A fortnight back, the PGA Tour managed to add a £2.4billion investment from the Strategic Sports Group [SSG].
And some PGA Tour players have suggested that the $3 billion from the SSG means more investment money from the PIF isn’t needed now.
After this was made, Spieth came out and claimed that the PGA Tour was less in need of the merger.
SPIETH HEAT
He also rebuffed McIlroy’s take that LIV Golf defectors should be welcomed back punishment-free to the PGA Tour.
The Texas native said: “I’ve asked a lot of players, I’ve done a lot of talking with a lot of players in the last couple months.
“That’s Rory’s viewpoint. I could name some guys with the same viewpoint. I could name some guys with a totally opposite viewpoint.
“So, it’s certainly mixed on how players feel about that.”
And now 30-year-old Thomas has agreed with Spieth’s stance as he holds completely opposing views to the Northern Irishman.
Louisville native Thomas was weighed-in on the situation after his close pals Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler took a similar line.
JT said: “I would say that there’s a handful of players on LIV that would make the tour a better place,”
“But I’m definitely not in the agreement that they should just be able to come back that easily.
“I think there’s a lot of us that made sacrifices – whether it’s true to our word or what we believe in or just didn’t make that decision.
“I totally understand that things are changing and things are getting better, but I would have a hard time with it, and I think a lot of guys would have a hard time with it.
“I’m sure we don’t need to convince you why we would have a hard time with it.
“I think there’s a scenario somewhere, whatever it is, down the road of some kind of version of some guys being back, but when and what that is, I have no idea.”
Fowler also agreed with Thomas’ words as he spoke to the media after last week’s AT & T at Pebble Beach.
He said: “As far as decisions to go elsewhere and just welcome back, I don’t think it’s a direct road.
“They made decisions — there has to be something for it. Whether how small or big, that’s not up to me.
“I feel like I’ve been saying it will be interesting to see how the next few months or year or two years go, and we’re still in that spot.”
The relationship between LIV Golf and PGA is strained at the moment after Jon Rahm and Tyrell Hatton were snapped up by their Saudi-backed competition.