Rory McIlroy to LIV Golf?! Yes, it could happen, and his former manager wouldn’t be surprised

Rory McIlroy’s former manager, Andrew “Chubby” Chandler, has surprised the golfing world by saying that a possible move for the Northern Irishman to LIV Golf is not completely off the table. In fact, “Chubby” Chandler said he was “sure” it was a possibility.

Not that the idea hasn’t crossed the minds of many fans after Rory McIlroy’s famous U-turn about LIV Golf in early 2024. But to have the idea floated by someone who knows the player well is something else, and certainly adds weight to what (nonetheless) remains speculation.

What did Andrew “Chubby” Chandler say about Rory Mcilroy’s change of position?

“Chubby” Chandler is one of the most recognized golf managers in the world, with several major champions in his catalog throughout his career. He worked with Rory McIlroy during his first stint as a professional (2007-2011) and has followed his progress closely ever since.

Chandler recently gave an interview to Bunkered in which he made it clear that he is not surprised that McIlroy has changed his mind. Here’s how he put it:

“It’s typical Rory. Rory is not shy in having an opinion and not slow to apologise if he’s got that wrong. When he turned pro in 2008 we were sat on a bench at Gleneagles and I had Rory telling me that the Ryder Cup meant nothing at all to him. ‘It was just an exhibition match. I’m here to win majors.’ There’s nobody bigger into the Ryder Cup now than Rory McIlroy.”

There was also no shortage of analysis of what McIlroy’s words could mean, in terms of a hypothetical move to play in LIV Golf. Here’s what Chandler had to say:

“Rory is of the ilk that he’ll say something because he likes to have an opinion but he’s quite happy to apologise for it and that’s what he’s done. If you were being cynical, you might say he’s going to sign for about £750 million (around $950 million) in a month’s time with LIV because he’s paving the way that LIV’s okay now, whereas it wasn’t.”

“Who knows? He doesn’t need £750m but it’s odd what he’s done and I’m sure it’s a possibility. If he does it or not, I don’t know, but if Rahm can do it, most guys can do it.”

“I think number one, there’s a 10% possibility he’s favouring his way to sign for LIV, but he realises that the whole bickering and fighting is no good for golf. The man in the street must find it appalling the sums of money being spoken.”

Rory McIlroy was one of the most vocal opponents of LIV Golf since its inception until the end of 2023. However, following Jon Rahm’s departure from the PGA Tour to the Greg Norman-led circuit, his discourse has radically changed.

From December 2023 to the present, Rory Mcilroy has made repeated statements supporting the possibility of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour coexisting in some way, as well as LIV players returning to play on the American Tour.