# McIlroy: LIV Golf wanted to destroy European Tour

> World number two Rory McIlroy says LIV Golf executives expressed ambition to wreck the DP World Tour at the 2026 Masters, months before the Saudi-backed league filed for bankruptcy.
- Title: McIlroy: LIV Golf wanted to destroy European Tour · BBC Sport
- Summary: World number two Rory McIlroy says LIV Golf executives expressed ambition to wreck the DP World Tour at the 2026 Masters, months before the Saudi-backed…
- Keywords: rory mcilroy, liv golf, dp world tour, professional golf, saudi public investment fund, bankruptcy, BBC Sport
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/articles/ck78p0epe0y8o
- Published: 2026-11-04T11:52:36.065+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: rory mcilroy, liv golf, dp world tour, professional golf, saudi public investment fund, bankruptcy, sports
## McIlroy claims LIV wanted to destroy tour
Six-time major winner Rory McIlroy says those connected to LIV Golf expressed ambition to destroy the European Tour at the 2026 Masters, months before the league filed for bankruptcy protection.

> They were going around Augusta saying they wanted to destroy the European Tour.
## DP World Tour CEO confirms the claim
DP World Tour CEO Guy Kinnings said LIV had a stated aim to destroy the DP World Tour.
## McIlroy: LIV created unsustainable arms race
McIlroy said LIV Golf took players and sponsors and turned professional golf into an arms race. He predicted the league would collapse when investors realised they would not get returns or decided to invest elsewhere.

> They took players; they took sponsors; they turned professional golf into an arms race.
## Saudi fund withdraws after five billion investment
The Saudi Public Investment Fund withdrew its backing after investing more than five billion dollars.
## Leading players already walking away
Leading players including Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia have already left LIV Golf. McIlroy said the league gave players leverage over the tours but created a false economy that needs resetting for sustainable professional golf.

> They created a false economy within men's professional golf.
## McIlroy chasing eighth Race to Dubai title
McIlroy is third in the Race to Dubai standings, trailing Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra by nine hundred ninety-nine point zero three points.
## Key takeaway

Rory McIlroy says LIV Golf executives told him at the Masters they wanted to destroy the European Tour, months before the league filed for bankruptcy protection.