Rory McIlroy backs DP World Tour, criticises LIV Golf's impact on the sport

Rory McIlroy expressed support for the DP World Tour on Wednesday after CEO Guy Kinnings said LIV Golf was trying to "destroy" the Tour. Speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Tour's penultimate event, the six-time major champion said he agreed with Kinnings's assessment, adding that LIV had taken players and sponsors and turned professional golf into an arms race.

"I agree with everything that Guy said. They took players, they took sponsors, they turned professional golf into an arms race," McIlroy said.

Kinnings reiterated that players who join LIV Golf 2.0 will be barred from the DP World Tour starting in 2027, a shift from the Tour's previous eligibility policy. He said the Tour has a duty to protect its members and treats all staff and partners with respect and dignity.

The CEO also noted that former DP World Tour members who left for LIV will remain ineligible for Ryder Cup captaincy, citing a rule introduced in 2017 that requires continuous Tour membership for consideration.

McIlroy recalled that he nearly gave up his DP World Tour membership in 2019 to focus on the PGA Tour, but a conversation with former European Tour chief Keith Pelley reminded him of the captaincy rule, influencing his decision to stay.

He called for more "give and take" regarding the sport's sustainability but said the current era offers unprecedented earning opportunities for players. McIlroy, 37, is pursuing his eighth Race to Dubai title, which would tie Colin Montgomerie's record on the DP World Tour.