Rory McIlroy emphatically disputes LIV Golf rumors

"I honestly don't know where these things get started," McIlroy said while chuckling at the rumors. "I've never been offered a number from LIV, and I've never contemplated going to LIV. Again, I think I've made it clear over the past two years that I don't think it's something for me."

The 34-year-old and his agent, Sean O'Flaherty, both responded to a Sunday report by City A.M. (a London financial paper) that said McIlroy was not only considering an offer of $850M, but the deal would've included an equity stake of "about two percent" as well.

"It doesn't mean that I judge people that have went and played over there," McIlroy said. "I think one of the things that I have realized over the past two years is that people can make their own decisions for whatever they think is best for themselves, and who are we to judge them for that? But personally, for me, my future is here on the PGA Tour, and it's never been any different."

O'Flaherty told the Irish Independent in an email earlier on Tuesday that there was "zero truth" to the City A.M. report which he called "fake news."

The two-time PGA Championship victor added that he had "no idea" where the origin of the report came from and that defecting to LIV Golf has "never even been a conversation" for him.

"It's unfortunate that we have to deal with it, and this is the state that our game is in. I'm obviously here today and going to the PGA Tour event next week, and I'll play the PGA Tour the rest of my career," McIlroy said.

The 24-time PGA Tour event winner will compete in the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C., from Thursday to Sunday. McIlroy is then slated to play with 37th-ranked Shane Lowry at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans from April 25-28.

The Northern Ireland native finished tied for 22nd at the 2024 Masters and will look for his first major victory since 2014 at the 2024 PGA Championship, which takes place from May 16-19.