Rory McIlroy disagrees with Jon Rahm's view that men's professional golf is in a “golden age”.
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Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm don't exactly see eye to eye on the divisive state of men's professional golf.
A potential merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf remains looming, with two stars teeing off this week at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic recently offering their assessments of the professional game as the 2025 season begins.
Rahm admitted he thought things would now “move further” but the two-time Grand Slam champion remains optimistic about the current state of the professional game.
“I think we're living in a golden age of golf right now, where the possibilities are endless,” Rahm said in Dubai on Tuesday. “The big tours in Europe and around the world and the PGA Tour, you have another big product with LIV and now you've even added TGL. When it comes to golf, there's an opportunity now.
“I think with the right mind you can eventually develop a product that I've been saying can take golf to a different level in the sports world. I still hope that can happen.
On Wednesday, McIlroy responded to Rahm's “golden era” claims with a more realistic view. The four-time Grand Slam champion understands Rahm's point of view but believes the sport's current problems go far beyond talent and growth.
“If you ask me, I'm very optimistic,” McIlroy said Wednesday of Rahm's comments.
McIlroy added that he hoped the turmoil of the past few years would lead to more opportunities for the professional game to grow globally. But McIlroy cannot ignore the broken nature of the professional game. In McIlroy's view, the game must come together to ensure a positive outlook.
“There are great players here, right,” McIlroy said. “There are a lot of great players playing on different tours, competing around the world, which is great. But at the same time, it's become too fragmented and too disjointed.
“I would share his optimism if the game wasn't as disjointed and fragmented as it is now. Maybe we'll get to that point sometime in the near future, and if we do, then I would say, I'll share that optimism.
Shortly after, McIlroy was asked about Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin, whom McIlroy considers a friend and protégé, who could potentially make the jump to LIV Golf to join Rahm's team.
McIlroy gave his three-minute answer, his disappointment evident.
“I really like Tom as a person and as a player,” McIlroy said. “I think he has a lot of potential. Look, I said to him, if I were in your situation, I would make different choices than what you want to do.
“I think what he might sacrifice and give up to get to the majors, a potential Ryder Cup berth, depends on, you know, how he's going to play. … Look, I don't think there's anything yet It's official. But if I were in his position and I had his potential (which I think I've had before), I wouldn't be in his shoes. Now an adult and able to make my own decisions all I can do is try to express my opinion to him.
McIlroy hopes McKibbin, who has yet to make a decision publicly, will decline the offer to move to LIV and continue to improve his golf on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. In McIlroy's view, the move to LIV has more negative consequences for rising stars like McKibbin.
“It would be a little disappointing if that happened, but it's not – and I've made it very clear: If you need to make the decisions you feel you need to make, I'm not going to stop you.” “But at the same time, I feel like he gave up a lot and didn't really benefit that much,” McIlroy said. “
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