Lee Westwood lays into Rory McIlroy for 'not well thought out' LIV Golf criticism
Lee Westwood lays into Rory McIlroy for 'not well thought out' LIV Golf criticism
Sam FrostFri, August 21, 2026 at 11:13 AM UTC
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Lee Westwood called out Rory McIlroy after the PGA Tour star questioned the 'value' of LIV Golf players -Credit:Jordan Bank/Getty Images
Lee Westwood has fired back at Rory McIlroy after he downplayed the "value" of LIV Golf players amid the breakaway league's funding crisis.
Former world No. 1 Westwood said McIlroy's comments were not "well thought out" after the Northern Irishman was asked which players he would welcome back to the PGA Tour if LIV folds.
The breakaway league desperately needs a cash injection once the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund pulls the plug at the end of this week, and it has agreed terms for a rescue deal in principle with private equity firm BC Partners. Deep uncertainty still hangs over LIV's future, though, with star man Jon Rahm among players considering walking away.
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During a press conference on Wednesday ahead of the BMW Championship at Bellerive, McIlroy was asked which LIV members would bring "value" to the PGA Tour if they were allowed to return.
His reply was brutal, telling reporters: "I mean, I would argue, have they brought value to LIV? You know? I think the PGA Tour's in a really good spot."
McIlroy's comments did not go down well on the other side of the fence, and the six-time major champion was called out by former friend Westwood after the opening round of LIV Golf Indianapolis on Thursday. Westwood also responded to criticism about his upcoming DP World Tour comeback after accepting a sponsor's invitation for October's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
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McIlroy has been a staunch critic of LIV since its inception in 2022 -Credit:Getty Images
"I really don't care what people think, to be perfectly honest," Westwood told TNT Sports. "I think it illustrates the fact that people like LIV players playing in their events. Promoters and sponsors, no matter which tour they're on, know this. [Players] bring quality to tournaments.
"I heard Rory's comments yesterday. I thought Scottie [Scheffler] answered the question well, and Rory's answer was just typical of Rory, really. It wasn't well thought out, and there's a lot of players on this tour who bring value to tournaments.
"The Alfred Dunhill is a point in question where I think [tournament host] Johann Rupert's got something like 26 or 27 invites, and I think 25 people off LIV have got invites, so that just shows you that LIV players do bring value to tournaments. But you know, there are certain media darlings, aren't there?
Westwood's Majesticks teammate Laurie Canter interjected: "He’s second in [all-time] DP World Tour money, so I feel like if anyone's deserves a spot, [it’s Westwood]."
The 25-time European Tour winner continued: "I’ve won that tournament as well, and I supported it. I played practically every one until I was forced to give up my membership on the European Tour because of the ridiculous fines.
"I've always got on well with Johann and I've gone down and played his tournament in Leopard Creek, which is a fabulous tournament, and he's a great supporter of golf He's stuck by his friends, [the] people that supported him over the years."
Coincidentally, both McIlroy and Westwood had good days on the course on Thursday. McIlroy bounced back from his woeful performance at the FedEx St. Jude Championship to take a share of the first-round lead at six under par, firing a bogey-free 64.
Westwood, meanwhile, is two shots off the lead of fellow Englishman Canter at Chatham Hills. The 53-year-old carded a six-under-par 64.
Source: “AOL Sports”
