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08/19 14:31 CDT Rory McIlroy questions what value Rahm and DeChambeau have brought to LIV Rory McIlroy questions what value Rahm and DeChambeau have brought to LIV By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer Scottie Scheffler is not opposed to the return of LIV Golf players who chased after Saudi money, but with some form of a penalty. Rory McIlroy could see unification at some point, though he paused when asked Wednesday about the value they would bring to the PGA Tour. "I mean, I'd argue have they brought value to LIV?" McIlroy said at the BMW Championship. LIV Golf's future is under scrutiny with the Indianapolis event this week being the last one of the year for a league that no longer will get funding from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. LIV CEO Scott O'Neil remained bullish about plans for 2027 and beyond, saying players would be equity owners and have their commercial rights restored. O'Neil said the plan was to have five team championships overseas and five individual tournaments in the United States scheduled close to the majors for those who qualify for them. He did not name the lead investor with whom LIV has reached an agreement. Several outlets have identified him as Ted Goldthorpe of BC Partners, who met with players on Tuesday. O'Neil said there was a deadline for players to commit to LIV 2.0 without saying when it is. He also has not mentioned the size of the proposed investment. LIV Golf spent more than $5 billion in five years. "The entirety of our focus is to get to this transaction and get through it," O'Neil said. "Without the players, that becomes very difficult. I have a good level of confidence in my conversation that we'll have a critical mass of the right players to move this league forward." The critical players for LIV are Jon Rahm, whose contract end after 2027, and Bryson DeChambeau, whose contract is up this year. Both are two-time major champions and the biggest two names left on LIV Golf. Brooks Koepka was the first player to return to the PGA Tour this year, with stipulations that he could not play $20 million signature events unless he earned his way, paid $5 million to charity and had no access to equity. The tour put the penalty value at $50 million and upward. The tour then offered the same deal --- and two weeks to decide on it --- to Rahm, DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, all major champions dating to the launch of LIV in 2022. "When we talk about the best players, LIV has a few players that are really good," Scheffler said. "I think the depth that we have on our tour is unmatched, but I think when you look at the higher levels of LIV Golf there's definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the tour, and guys that I love competing against as well. "So I think going forward there obviously has to be, I think, some sort of penalties." What those penalties are he said would be up to PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp. McIlroy has been the biggest critic of LIV from the start. He has toned down his rhetoric over the years, though he suggested in February 2025 that players "have to get over it" when it comes to finding a way to bring defectors back. He sounded more reluctant Wednesday, noting that top players had their chances to return at the start of the year and whatever offer likely would not be as good as it was for Koepka. "I'm not part of these discussions, but I'm pretty sure they're not going to be welcomed back straight away," McIlroy said. "I think it was said at the time that the deal that they might get going forward --- if they do decide to come back --- isn't going to be as good as the one that Brooks got. "So, yeah, I would say it's going to be a tough, tough road back." And it's going to be tough on LIV, particularly with at least two lawsuits pending from vendors. Canadian-based Mobbi Systems Group field a lawsuit in Miami last month. The technology company that supplied LIV's "Any Shot, Any Time" feature on broadcasts is asking more than $1 million for outstanding invoices and lost revenue. In another lawsuit filed last month in New York, Colorado-based Fresh Tape Media is asking for more than $1.2 million LIV owes for the company to produce its preseason media preview days. "What I would say to them is we're doing everything we can to make sure we can do right by them and the work they committed, and I hope we can," O'Neil said. "For the next generation, it will certainly be a different business with a different process." ___ See AP's full golf coverage here

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