Rory McIlroy has had a change of heart about the LIV Golf breakaway league in recent years, and he says he would welcome the likes of Bryson DeChambeau back to the PGA Tour with open arms

Rory McIlroy has changed his views of LIV Golf over the years (Image: Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy has extended an olive branch to Bryson DeChambeau and his LIV Golf mates, saying he’ll welcome them back to the PGA Tour with “open arms” and advising dissenting players to “get over it”.

There’s a buzz that a truce between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), which backs LIV Golf, is on the horizon, with former President Donald Trump looking to broker the deal. In recent years, big names like Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, and Dustin Johnson left the PGA Tour for the new LIV league, causing a rift in men’s pro golf.

Initially a vocal opponent of LIV, McIlroy’s view has mellowed, and he now reckons the PGA Tour would benefit from the return of stars like DeChambeau, who were barred after joining LIV.

“There are guys that were on the PGA Tour that went to play on LIV and if they still have status, sure, come back, come back and play. Having Bryson DeChambeau come back and play on this tour is good,” McIlroy shared with the press at The Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines.

McIlroy has exhibited a remarkable shift in perspective, striking a philosophical note with journalists. He urged his PGA Tour peers to move past any reluctance to welcome back LIV Golf defectors, asserting everyone has benefited from the new competition.

Both McIlroy and DeChambeau have weighed in on the current merger negotiations (Image: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

“We’ve all done better from all of this,” McIlroy stated. Sharing his thoughts on the increased prize funds, he added, “Whether you stayed on the PGA Tour or you left, we have all benefited from this. I’ve been on the record saying this a lot, like we’re playing for a $20 million prize fund this week. That would have never happened if LIV hadn’t come around.

“I think everyone’s just got to get over it and we all have to say, ‘Okay, this is the starting point and we move forward. We don’t look behind us, we don’t look to the past. Whatever’s happened has happened and it’s been unfortunate, but reunification, how we all come back together and move forward, that’s the best thing for everyone.'”

He dismissed any hard feelings about players switching sides and emphasized unity, “If people are butt-hurt or have their feelings hurt because guys went or whatever, like who cares? Let’s move forward together and let’s just try to get this thing going again and do what’s best for the game.”