The golf landscape is currently a contentious one, with the divide in the men’s professional game at the forefront of discussion. This has led to criticism directed at players who advocate for golf’s reunification, with Rory McIlroy being a prime example. McIlroy has recently gained attention for speaking candidly about the changes to the PGA Tour since the establishment of LIV Golf a few years ago. He notably remarked that without LIV’s disruption, it is unlikely that PGA Tour purses would have seen such significant increases in recent years.
“I look at what I made in 2019 before LIV came around and I look at what I’ve made after LIV came around and it’s very different,” McIlroy told reporters before the Genesis Invitational. “Like, I don’t know what to say, I earn more money now than I did in 2019 and if LIV hadn’t come around, I don’t know if I would have been able to say that.” This statement drew sharp criticism from Johnson Wagner, a rising star in golf broadcasting, who argued that McIlroy’s viewpoint overlooked the plight of other stakeholders in the sport.
. @johnson_wagner with some pointed commentary on @McIlroyRory‘s presser yesterday. “He just is seeing things from such a finite perspective, from his perspective.” pic.twitter.com/fcqCNVrtBU
— Josh Carpenter (@JoshACarpenter) February 14, 2025
Wagner elaborated, “The fact that he’s talking about, ‘We’ve all benefited,’ like, he just is seeing things from such a finite perspective; from his perspective. You know who hasn’t benefited since all of this has gone on? The sponsors that pay all the bills for the PGA Tour events. Because TV is down, everything is down, yet they’re being asked to pay more money. So good for you, I’m glad you’re making more money than you were in ’19, which was a ton of money. Rory said some things over the last couple of seasons that have rubbed a lot of players the wrong way, and now he wants everybody to get over it. He’s pushing for a small world tour. He’s trying to get his way in every way. I’m a huge fan of Rory, but he’s angering me right now.”
It’s not common for an analyst to criticize a player so directly, but Wagner’s comments reflect valid concerns that may be unpopular. McIlroy’s frankness stems from his role as the PGA Tour’s de facto spokesperson against LIV Golf, but that status doesn’t shield him from critique. Wagner’s observations are pertinent; last year’s PGA Tour ratings dropped significantly, leading to the Tour asking sponsors for more money to support purse increases despite a decline in viewership and a lack of participation from some top golfers due to LIV. This has resulted in several long-standing sponsors exiting.
However, McIlroy’s remarks were made in the context of his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs, advocating for reunification sooner rather than later. He is simply acknowledging how significantly LIV has influenced professional golfers’ earnings. It’s crucial to have analysts like Wagner who are willing to voice these perspectives, especially in sports like golf and tennis, where ex-players often maintain friendly ties with current competitors, sometimes at the cost of essential critical discourse.
Johnson Wagner undoubtedly did not shy away from expressing his views on Thursday evening.
