3<\/p>\n LIV Golf is on the bring of collapse after the PIF withdrew their backingCredit: Getty<\/p>\n The decision to do so leaves LIV Golf<\/a> on life support, which has come as a shock to many.<\/p>\n News of PIF’s withdrawal emerged in the aftermath of McIlroy’s successful Masters defence in Augusta<\/a> last month and shocked many.<\/p>\n The Northern Irishman<\/a>, however, was not one of those surprised, stating: “It was always a possibility. I feel like a lot of us, \u00adincluding me, we almost knew before the [LIV] players did that this was going to happen.<\/p>\n “I was hearing about this back in March, April time. I have friends over there.<\/p>\n READ MORE ON TALKSPORT<\/p>\n “One of my best friends, Ricky [McCormick], caddies for Tom McKibbin. I would talk to him all the time about what was going on.<\/p>\n “I was saying to Ricky: \u2018Have you guys heard any of this stuff?\u2019 He was like: \u2018No, everything seems OK over here.\u2019<\/p>\n “It just feels like the rug was pulled from under their feet and everyone was sort of blindsided by it. That\u2019s the risk that those guys chose to take. There\u2019s a lot of uncertainty in the air right now.”<\/p>\n Westwood<\/a> has since responded to McIlroy and others ‘guessing’ about the future of the tour.<\/p>\n “Everybody was guessing back in March, weren\u2019t they? Me and a few others were the closest to it and you couldn’t say for certain,” Westwood told talkSPORT’s Breakfast show.<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n McIlroy believes a lot of players took a “risk” by leaving the PGA Tour for LIV GolfCredit: Getty<\/p>\n “I think there’s a lot of things gone into that. I think the war in the Middle East has not helped.<\/p>\n “We’re at a point where it is what it is now. You have to move on. There’s no point in going into speculation and you’ve got to look forward.”<\/p>\n Westwood added that ‘everybody’s quite optimistic’ about the future of LIV Golf.<\/p>\n “They’re still trying to pull it all together. I will say it came as a bit of a shock when the PIF pulled out. They seemed to be all in on it,” he continued.<\/p>\n “But I will also say that, I sit in on most of these meetings at a high level with people like Scott O’Neill and Bryson DeChambeau in there and Jon Rahm.<\/p>\n “I’ve never seen anybody so excited and energized, really. Looking to the future, they’re able to make decisions quickly now and obviously are going to have to with PIF pulling out.<\/p>\n “Next season not being that far away, you have to plan for it now. I think everybody’s quite optimistic.”<\/p>\n ‘Never enjoyed the PGA Tour’<\/p>\n Should LIV Golf collapse, however, Westwood admits he has contingencies in place, stating: “I’ve got plenty of options.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m 53 now, so there\u2019s the senior tours and I’ve still got exemptions on the European tour if I chose to pay my fines.”<\/p>\n And on whether he’d return to the PGA Tour<\/a>, he said: “I’ve never really enjoyed playing the PGA tour that much.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/crop-4217177.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Rory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778840419_905_rory-mcilroy-northern-ireland-speaks-1080085807.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Lee](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/lee-westwood-england-looks-dundonald-1006864541.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n