Rory McIlroy Responds To Patrick Reed LIV Golf Comments

January 27, 2026

Rory McIlroy has weighed-in with his reaction to comments made by Patrick Reed about LIV Golf and his future.

The five-time major champion spoke after his team’s TGL victory about Reed’s comments and Brooks Koepka’s PGA Tour return this week.

Rory McIlroy Reacts To Patrick Reed LIV Golf Comments

After a mediocre performance at the Dubai Desert Classic where he finished in tie for 33rd place on -2 par, Rory McIlroy flew straight to Florida for some TGL Season 2 action on Monday night at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach.

McIlroy went head-to-head with good friend Shane Lowry, with his Boston Common Golf team hammering Lowry’s The Bay GC 9-1 to make it two wins from two to begin their Season 2 campaign.

Straight after securing victory, McIlroy and teammates Keegan Bradley and Michael Thorbjornsen spoke to the media, with the Northern Irishman being questioned on a number of topics away from TGL too.

McIlroy was asked to weigh-in with his thoughts on Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour, with his first tournament this week at the Farmers Insurance Open. He was also asked to react to comments made by Patrick Reed about LIV Golf.

Rory McIlroy on Brooks Koepka's return this week:

"I think he made the decision that he thought competing at the highest level meant coming back to the PGA Tour… Patrick Reed said it in Dubai last week. It seems like some of those guys are maybe starting to realize that… pic.twitter.com/lectZtJLH7

— Underdog Golf (@UnderdogGolf) January 27, 2026

Reed clinched the Dubai Desert Classic title on Sunday, and gave some interesting words on his current situation with LIV and his future at the breakaway golf league. The former Masters champion revealed his future with LIV is up in the air, with McIlroy commenting on the situation himself:

“You’ve seen others say this recently. Patrick Reed said it in Dubai last week. It seems like some of those guys are maybe starting to realise that they’re not getting everything that they wanted out of going over there, and that’s obviously a great thing for the PGA Tour,” revealed McIlroy.

It remains to be seen what happens regarding Reed and his future at LIV Golf, but McIlroy feels it’s pretty clear that a lot of players are no longer fully happy at the Saudi-backed golf league.

https://twitter.com/NUCLRGOLF/status/2015988754746405134

McIlroy Shares More Brooks Koepka PGA Tour Return Thoughts

As well as weighing in with his thoughts on Patrick Reed’s comments regarding LIV Golf, Rory McIlroy shared his thoughts on the imminent return of five-time major champion Brooks Koepka to the PGA Tour.

Koepka’s PGA Tour return was confirmed in early January, with the American set to compete in his first event after re-joining from LIV this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Career Grand Slam winner McIlroy feels it is a huge positive for the PGA Tour that a player of Koepka’s calibre is back. Ultimately McIlroy feels this will help strengthen the PGA Tour and will make tournaments more competitive week in, week out:

“I think it says more about Brooks than anything else. He obviously is a very competitive person and wants to compete at the highest level. I think he made the decision that he thought competing at the highest level meant coming back to the PGA Tour,” said McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy reacts to Brooks Koepka returning to the PGA Tour and Patrick Reed’s comments about his future:

“Yeah, I think it says more about Brooks than anything else. He obviously is a very competitive person and wants to compete at the highest level. I think he made the… pic.twitter.com/0Cpig1BqT3

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) January 27, 2026

McIlroy evidently feels that the PGA Tour is the highest level of competition in professional golf, which it undoubtedly is. Koepka’s return and rumours of discontent amongst other LIV players is also telling, and could lead to more returns to the PGA Tour from some key players in the coming months.

After revealing his biggest golf ambitions ahead of the 2026 season and what he wants to achieve before he retires from golf, it’s abundantly clear that McIlroy is happy with what is happening to LIV and how it is helping to further strengthen the PGA Tour.