LIV Golf: Rory McIlroy says players returning to PGA Tour should not be punished

Rory McIlroy says he has "changed his tune" on LIV Golf and does not think players should be punished if they return to the PGA Tour.

The four-time major champion has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV series.

In 2022 he said players who had joined LIV Golf should not be allowed to compete on other tours.

"Life is about choices. Guys made choices to go and play LIV. Guys made choices to stay here," he said.

Speaking on Tuesday, the Northern Irishman said: "It's hard to punish people. I don't think there should be a punishment.

"If people still have eligibility on this tour and they want to come back and play or you want to try and do something, let them come back.

"I've changed my tune on that because I see where golf is and I see that having a diminished PGA Tour and having a diminished LIV Tour or anything else is bad for both parties."

McIlroy's Ryder Cup-winning team-mate Tyrrell Hatton is the latest high-profile player to sign up to LIV Golf and will make his debut in this week's season-opening event in Mexico.

The Englishman's deal with LIV is reportedly worth about £50m, external - more than double what 32-year-old Hatton has earned on the PGA Tour in his career.

"I had a long talk with Tyrrell on Sunday - completely understood where he was coming from," McIlroy said.

"It got to the point where they negotiated and got to a place he was comfortable with, and he has to do what he feels is right for him. I'm not going to stand in anyone's way from making money and what they deem life-changing money."

Earlier in January McIlroy said he would be open to playing in a LIV Golf-backed tournament if the controversial tour became more like cricket's Indian Premier League - a softened stance that LIV chief executive Greg Norman said was a "significant turning point" for the sport.

Negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which bankrolls LIV Golf, over a potential merger are continuing into 2024 after they failed to reach an agreement at the end of 2023.

Poland's Adrian Meronk and Australian Lucas Herbert joined LIV Golf on Wednesday before the season begins in Mayakoba on Friday.

Meronk, 30, won three titles on the DP World Tour in 2023, was named player of the year and finished fourth on the Race to Dubai.

He has joined Martin Kaymer's Cleeks GC, while Herbert will be part of Ripper GC led by former Open champion Cameron Smith.

"I'm really looking forward to the new challenge and next chapter of my career as I team up with Martin and the Cleeks," said Meronk.

"While I appreciate this decision didn't come easy, joining LIV Golf is a very special moment for my career.

"The 2023 season made me feel that, despite all of my successes, 287 days a year which I spent away from home is too many.

"The LIV schedule gives me more time with my loved ones and more space to work on every aspect of my game."