Rory McIlroy rubbishes reports of potential $850million move to LIV Golf

“Fake news. Zero truth,” McIlroy’s manager Sean O’Flaherty said in an email.

London financial paper City AM reported today that sources have told them that McIlroy “could” join LIV Golf.

The paper reported that “two separate sources have told City AM that they believe a deal is close. It is claimed that LIV Golf chiefs have offered world No2 McIlroy an eye-watering $850m to join, plus around two per cent equity in the competition.”

McIlroy was asked today about the report and continued rumours circulating over him possibly jumping to LIV and he dismissed them out of hand.

"I honestly don’t know how these things get started. I have never been offered a number from LIV and have never contemplated going. I’ve made it clear over the past two years that I don’t think it’s something for me. Doesn’t mean that I judge people that have gone over and played over there.” he said.

“One of the things I’ve realised over the last two years is that people can make their own decisions for whatever they think is best for themselves. Who are we to judge that?

"Personally for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour. It’s never been any different.”

McIlroy also added that he has no idea where the rumours came from, stating that he will play the PGA Tour “for the rest of my career”.

The speculation began when McIlroy’s former manager Chubby Chandler suggested that the world number two’s softening stance on harsh sanctions for LIV Golf stars looking to return to the PGA Tour should the merger deal with PIF prosper.

“If you were being cynical, you might say he’s going to sign for about £750m in a month’s time with LIV because he’s paving the way that LIV’s OK now, whereas it wasn’t,” Chandler said in February.

“He doesn’t need £750m, but it’s odd what he’s done and I’m sure it’s a possibility. If he does it or not, I don’t know, but if Rahm can do it, most guys can do it.”

Rory McIlroy admitted he felt like a “sacrificial lamb” and still “hated” LIV Golf

McIlroy appeared to be speaking with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek when asked about Chandler’s comments a few days later.

“You never know, he might know a few things, who knows?” he said ahead of the Cognizant Classic.

Asked whether there was a good chance or a 10 per cent, he replied: “Somewhere in the middle maybe, who knows?”

McIlroy did not indicate he was wavering on his commitment to the PGA after his disappointing Masters performance.

Asked at Augusta National if he’d consider scaling back his hectic playing schedule after playing seven events before the Masters, he said: “No, the next two weeks I'm playing Hilton Head, I'm playing New Orleans. I'll take a week off, playing Quail Hollow, play the PGA, take another week off, then play another four in a row.”

The presence of LIV Golf’s Greg Norman following McIlroy’s group at the Masters last week came as rumours of a LIV move were being whispered around the venue.