Rory McIlroy has been one of the most outspoken PGA Tour golfers about preserving the tour despite everything LIV Golf is doing to create its own breakaway league, but even the Northern Irishman recognizes the power of what LIV is building.

Despite being on opposite sides of the issue, McIlroy and Rahm both expressed positive opinions about LIV Golf’s new CEO.

The two Northern Irish golfers have been close in the past, but a move to the rival tour could ruin that relationship.

DeMar DeRozan gave Sacramento the lead for good with 2:20 remaining, De'Aaron Fox made five free throws amid two controversial calls in the final 33 seconds, and the host Kings hung on to defeat the Houston Rockets 132-127 on Thursday night.

Rory McIlroy has never hidden his frustration with Greg Norman, frequently criticizing the Australian as he helped launch the LIV Golf League and, in McIlroy’s mind, initiated the schism with the PGA Tour that has harmed men’s professional golf.

Following a 2-under 70 in the opening round of the 2025 Dubai Desert Classic, Rory McIlroy addressed the announcement that Scott O'Neil had been appointed LIV Golf CEO. Having previously butted heads publicly with outgoing CEO and commissioner Greg Norman,

All the while, McIlroy will attempt to win a fifth career major after a 10-year drought filled with close calls. Recently, he has had second-place finishes at the past two U.S. Opens and one runner up at the 2022 Masters. There was also a heartbreaking third place behind winner Cam Smith at the 150th Open at St. Andrews.

Although Rory McIlroy may eventually share Jon Rahm's optimism about the state of professional golf, he currently does not believe the sport is in its "golden era" -- as the Spaniard suggested on Tuesday.

Rory McIlroy has won the Seve Ballesteros Award for the fourth time in his career. Voted by his peers as the 2024 Player of the Year on the DP World Tour, McIlroy won the Race to Dubai title for the sixth time pulling him alongside Ballesteros for the second-most behind only Collin Montgomerie's eight season-long crowns.

Rory McIlroy believes that former LIV CEO Greg Norman was “probably one of the only people in golf who could have got LIV Golf off the ground.”

Rory McIlroy is not playing at the level we have come to expect, but has precedence to lean on at the Hero Desert Dubai Classic.