A golf great has disagreed with Rory McIlroy over the thorny issue of punishing LIV Golf rebels – should they wish to return to PGA Tour events. Currently, LIV players are banned from playing on the PGA Tour, with the four majors the only individual tournaments that bring players from both sides of the divide together.
There are hopes that the likes of McIlroy’s Ryder Cup colleague Jon Rahm, plus recent major winners like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, will one day return to the fold, almost three years since the top of the men’s game was ripped apart following the launch of the Saudi-backed tour. In a marked change of tune, McIlroy, previously an ardent opponent of LIV Golf, no longer feels returning players should face sanctions.
However, 1977 US PGA champion Lanny Wadkins staunchly disagrees, telling the Golf Channel: “I would like to see Jon Rahm, Koepka, and DeChambeau play more often.
“That would be nice. But there’s also got to be repercussions. I don’t think you can just go to LIV, take $100m and walk back in and expect to have the same status you’ve always had on this tour.
“That’s not fair to the guys who supported the tour and have been here the whole time. Whether it’s fines, suspensions, whatever for it to work and I’ll be damned if I can figure it out. Good luck to the guys trying!”
In contrast, McIlroy’s approach is one of forgiveness and unity, with the Northern Irishman keen to forge ahead without lingering bitterness. He said earlier this season: “I think life is about choices. Guys made choices to go and play LIV, guys made choices to stay here.
“If people still have eligibility on this tour and they want to come back and play or you want to try and do something, let them come back. I think it’s hard to punish people. I don’t think there should be a punishment.”
“Obviously I’ve changed my tune on that because I see where golf is and I see that having a diminished PGA Tour and having a diminished LIV Tour or anything else is bad for both parties. It would be much better being together and moving forward together for the good of the game.”
After McIlroy’s historic Masters triumph last month, the next time players from both camps come together will be at the US PGA Championship at Quali Hollow. The second major of 2025 starts on May 15.
