Rory McIlroy Boldly Pledges His Allegiance To The PGA Tour For Remainder Of Career Amid LIV Golf Rumors

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Rory McIlroy isn't going anywhere.

A day after London-based financial paper City AM cited two unnamed sources who "believed a deal is close" for him to make a move to LIV Golf for $850 million and two percent of the circuit, McIlroy completely shut down the rumors.

Speaking with Todd Lewis of Golf Channel ahead of this week's RBC Heritage, McIlroy pledged his allegiance to the PGA Tour, and not only for the time being, but for the rest of his professional career, while explaining he had no idea where the rumors and reports originated from.

"I honestly don't know how these things get started," McIlroy said with a smile. "I've never been offered a number from LIV and I've never contemplated going to LIV. I think I've made it clear over the past two years that I don't think it's something for me."

"It's never even been a conversation for us," McIlroy later continued. "It's one of those things, it's unfortunate that we have to deal with it and this is the state that our game is in, but I'm here today playing this PGA Tour event next week and I will play the PGA Tour for the rest of my career."

Rory McIroy Is Not Heading To LIV

Over the course of the last two years since LIV's inception, when there is smoke there has been fire when it comes to certain players making the move to the Saudi-backed circuit. Cam Smith bolting for LIV after the 2022 Open and Jon Rahm leaving at the end of 2023 come to mind, but it's clear McIlroy isn't falling into that category.

There is a certain boldness behind McIlroy's emphatic statement about playing on the PGA Tour for the rest of his career given the many question marks surrounding professional golf. He's also pitched the idea multiple times now that he would be on board with a "global tour" that would have a similar format as the Champions League in European Soccer.

Whether that plan comes to fruition and if it falls under what would be a new-look PGA Tour is unclear.

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Mark covers all sports at OutKick while keeping a close eye on the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and all other happenings in the world of golf. He graduated from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga before earning his master's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee. He somehow survived living in Knoxville despite ‘Rocky Top’ being his least favorite song ever written. Before joining OutKick, he wrote for various outlets including SB Nation, The Spun, and BroBible. Mark was also a writer for the Chicago Cubs Double-A affiliate in 2016 when the team won the World Series. He's still waiting for his championship ring to arrive. Follow him on Twitter @itismarkharris.