10 RORY MCILROY

Four-time Major champion, current World No.1 and PGA Tour Player Advisory Council Chairman.

Mcilroy is golf’s biggest superstar since Tiger. OK, so he hasn’t quite lived up to our lofty expectations (Jack Nicklaus once predicted Rory could win 15 or 20 Majors), but the Holywood lad hasn’t done too bad. He has 30 wins across the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, four Major titles, and recently returned to World No.1 thanks to three victories in 2022, alongside top-10 finishes in all four Majors.

He’s been named among the top three most marketable athletes in the world, awarded an MBE, had a computer game named after him, been crowned PGA Tour Player of the Year on three occasions (only Tiger has more), and spent more than 100 weeks as golf’s top dog.

At a tumultuous time for golf, Mcilroy has repeatedly made his feelings clear about LIV Golf and, in particular, its CEO Greg Norman. Mcilroy celebrated his Canadian Open victory by claiming that his 21st PGA Tour win was “one more than someone else; that gave me a little bit of extra incentive…” in reference to Norman’s 20 PGA Tour titles.

That feud aside, Mcilroy has shown maturity and reason in his views on LIV. “I don’t want a fractured game,” he said. “I never have. The game of golf is ripping itself apart right now and that’s no good for anyone. I’ve always said I think there is a time and a place where everyone that’s involved should sit down and try to work together.”

Given his influence on the PGA Tour and beyond, Mcilroy could well play a pivotal role in finding a way for LIV Golf to exist in harmony, alongside golf’s traditional tours. If he can manage that and complete the career Grand Slam by finally getting his hands on that elusive Green Jacket, he will cement his position as one of the game’s true greats.

‘THE PGA TOUR AND LIV WILL HAVE TO FIND A COMPROMISE AND SPEAK FOR THE SAKE OF OUR SPORT’