McIlroy: LIV Golf players face 'tough road back' to PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy believes players currently on the LIV Golf circuit could face a difficult path back to the PGA Tour, he said ahead of this week's BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St Louis.

Uncertainty over LIV's future has grown since Saudi Arabia confirmed in April it was withdrawing financial backing from the breakaway league. Next week's Team Championship has been cancelled, leaving this week's event in Indianapolis as LIV's season finale.

Koepka's deal as a benchmark

In January, five-time Major winner Brooks Koepka rejoined the PGA Tour under terms that required him to forfeit player equity shares for five years, made him ineligible for this year's $100m FedEx Cup bonus, and required a $5m charitable donation.

McIlroy questioned whether LIV players had brought real value to the league and suggested that others, such as Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, would face even tougher conditions than Koepka if they sought a return. He noted that the returning-member programme offered in February, which Koepka used, is no longer available, meaning future deals are expected to be less favourable.

Scheffler's big week

McIlroy finished 66th at last week's FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis after shooting eight-over par, and said he was simply hoping for improvement heading into the BMW Championship.

Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler cruised to victory in St Louis, pushing his career earnings to nearly $120m — just shy of record-holder Tiger Woods. Scheffler played down comparisons with Woods in terms of overall standing in the game, crediting Woods' influence on tour purses rather than claiming parity in achievement. The win was Scheffler's 21st PGA Tour title, compared with Woods' 82.