Rory McIlroy: Reckoning with Ryder Cup and plea for LIV returnees

Following his Masters victory in 2025 and his emotional Ryder Cup success in Bethpage Black, Rory McIlroy is increasingly acting as a diplomatic mouthpiece for the golf world. In recent statements, he reflects on the disturbing scenes in New York, criticizes the US team leadership and makes a surprisingly offensive plea for the LIV renegades to return to the PGA Tour.

Rory McIlroy has undergone a remarkable transformation. He has evolved from a former "squire" of the PGA Tour into a realist who puts the healing of the torn professional sport above personal differences. In recent interviews - including on the "Stick to Football" podcast and with the Palm Beach Post - the Northern Irishman provided an in-depth analysis of the current state of the game.

The horror of Bethpage and Rory McIlroy's reaction

Although Team Europe celebrated a historic 15-13 away victory in September 2025, McIlroy's sporting triumph remains overshadowed by the circumstances surrounding it. He described the atmosphere in New York as unprecedentedly hostile.

According to McIlroy, it was no longer just about sporting jibes, but about targeted verbal attacks on those closest to him. "I've heard things about my daughter that I couldn't even repeat here. It's horrible," he revealed in the "Stick to Football" podcast. While he was accustomed to being bullied, the attacks on his wife Erica and daughter Poppy marked a new, unacceptable level of aggression.

Why Rory McIlroy condemns the behavior of US spectators

McIlroy drew a grim comparison to the past: "In 2016 we played the Ryder Cup in Minnesota and I thought that was bad. But compared to what we've heard this year, 2016 was nothing." He sees this as a symptom of a general societal "mob mentality", with a small minority of rioters poisoning the entire atmosphere of a 50,000-capacity event.

In the midst of this heated climate, McIlroy was not sparing in his criticism of the US team management. Although he had sought a discussion with US captain Keegan Bradley, he felt that his counterpart had failed to take moral responsibility.

Rory McIlroy's criticism of US captain Keegan Bradley

Speaking to the BBC and in a podcast interview, Rory criticized Bradley for not using his influence as captain to de-escalate the situation: "Keegan had the biggest platform of the week as captain. I feel like he could have said something on Friday or Saturday night to call on the fans to calm down and he didn't." Although the situation had eased somewhat on the final day due to the dispersal of spectators around the course, the failure of the US leadership to intervene remains a sore point for McIlroy.

As irreconcilable as McIlroy is in the face of the fan excesses, he now takes a pragmatic view of the personnel issues surrounding the LIV Tour. After Brooks Koepka announced his retirement from the Saudi Arabian league at the end of 2025, McIlroy called for an uncomplicated return of the superstar.

Rory McIlroy's new reconciliation strategy

"Does it make sense to get Brooks back as soon as possible if he wants to play on the PGA Tour again? Absolutely," he told the Palm Beach Post. He is convinced that golf must unite its stars if it is not to lose its global significance. This also applies to Bryson DeChambeau, despite the media tensions between the two during the 2025 Masters.

His reasoning for this leniency is a new look at the "punishment" of the changers: "They've earned their money, but they've paid the consequences in terms of their reputation and through things they lost when they went there," McIlroy said in the "Stick to Football" podcast. For him, the loss of image suffered is sanction enough.

Rory McIlroy and the uncertain future of LIV Golf

However, McIlroy remains skeptical about the model of the competitive league. He commented almost pityingly on LIV Golf 's switch to the classic 72-hole format as a loss of identity: "What else is different apart from the money?"

McIlroy's words send a clear message to the golf world: the sport is at a turning point. If even its most high-profile defender calls for reconciliation, 2026 could be the year in which the rifts are finally filled in.