Rory McIlroy says players who missed big LIV bucks have to move on as PGA Tour deal nears

After declaring at one stage he hated LIV for poaching stars on life-changing deals, Rory McIlroy has done a 180 as golf’s war nears a happy ending.

Rory McIlroy says any players who had their “feelings hurt” by peers taking big-money offers to join LIV had to “get over it” as PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan declared reunification and potentially “one tour” was now his No.1 priority.

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Monahan said his meeting with US President Donald Trump, also attended by Australian veteran Adam Scott, took moves to bring the tours closer together a “lot closer”.

As both the US and British Opens created exemptions for LIV players, Monahan, who has been negotiating with LIV backers the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia over potentially billions of dollars of investment, declared a coming together was now his goal.

“The only thing that matters to fans and the game is reunification,” Monahan said.

“When you look at all the parties involved, there’s a general enthusiasm for getting this done.”

Monahan said Mr Trump outlined his ideal world of “the game of golf operating under one tour with all the top players”.

McIlroy added his support to the idea, declaring LIV players with PGA Tour status, like reigning US Open champ Bryson DeChambeau, should “come back”.

“There are guys that were on the PGA Tour that went to play on LIV and if they still have status, sure, come back, come back and play,” he said.

“Having Bryson DeChambeau come back and play on this tour is good.”

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan says a deal is his No.1 priority. Picture: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

On Wednesday, five-time major champion and LIV star Brooks Koepka declared LIV was now “part of the golf ecosystem” and McIlroy, one of the strongest critics when LIV first poached players on nine-figure contracts, agreed.

McIlroy said players who turned down big money to stay loyal to the tour should welcome it too.

“I think everyone has just got to get over it and we all have to say, ‘OK, this is the starting point and we move forward. We don’t look behind us, we don’t look to the past’,” McIlroy said.

“Whatever has happened has happened, and it’s been unfortunate. But reunification, how we all come back together and move forward, that’s the best thing for everyone.

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“If people are butt-hurt, or have their feelings hurt because guys went or whatever, like who cares? Let’s move forward together and let’s just try to get this thing going again and do what’s best for the game.”

The Saudi PIF spent close to $2bn to launch LIV, a figure that could be matched in investment with the PGA Tour.

With PGA Tour purses increasing, including eight $30m signature events, McIlroy said it was hard to argue with LIV’s impact.

“We’re playing for a $20m prize fund this week.,” he said ahead of the Genesis Invitational.

“That would have never happened if LIV hadn’t have come around.”