\t\t\t\tLee Westwood challenges Rory McIlroy\u2019s controversial comments about the \u2018value\u2019 of LIV Golf players\u2026<\/p>\n
Lee Westwood has hit back at Rory McIlroy\u2019s suggestion that LIV Golf\u2019s biggest names have failed to provide value to the breakaway league, saying the argument was \u201ctypical\u201d of the Masters champion. <\/p>\n
In his press conference before the BMW Championship this week, McIlroy questioned whether there is any point in some LIV players returning to the PGA Tour<\/a> if the league does not survive next season. <\/p>\n At the same time, LIV chief executive Scott O\u2019Neil was addressing media at his league\u2019s final event of 2026 in Indianapolis, discussing his hopes for a reimagined future without the backing of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund. <\/p>\n But those plans could well hinge on whether his star players commit to his vision or explore pathways back to the PGA Tour. And McIlroy made clear that he was in no hurry to reunite with some LIV faces. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d argue, have they brought value to LIV?\u201d McIlroy said. <\/p>\n McIlroy added that it will be a \u201ctough road back\u201d when asked whether the PGA Tour would benefit specifically from the return of Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm ahead of future media rights negotiations.<\/p>\n Westwood, meanwhile, has already made his own move back to the traditional establishment after accepting an invite to play<\/a> in the DP World Tour\u2019s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. The former World No.1 is eligible to play on his former domain for his first start in over three years after deciding to settle fines incurred for breaking their conflicting tournament regulations.<\/p>\n \u201cI really don\u2019t care what people think to be honest,\u201d he said when asked about receiving criticism for his upcoming October return. \u201cI think it illustrates that people like LIV players playing in their events. Promoters and sponsors, no matter which tour they\u2019re on, they bring quality to tournaments.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard Rory\u2019s comments yesterday, I thought Scottie [Scheffler] answered the question well<\/a> and Rory\u2019s answer was typical of Rory. It wasn\u2019t well thought out. There\u2019s a lot of player on this tour bringing value to the tournaments and the Alfred Dunhill is the point in question. Johann Rupert [the tournament sponsor] has something like 26, 27 invites and 25 people from LIV have got invites. That shows LIV players do bring value to tournaments.\u201d<\/p>\n Scheffler, meanwhile, said: \u201cWhen you look at higher levels of LIV Golf there are definitely players that would provide a value to the tour and guys that I love competing against as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTypical of Rory. It wasn\u2019t well thought out.\u201d \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n Lee Westwood responds after Rory McIlroy questioned the value LIV Golf players have brought to the tour. pic.twitter.com\/sR7kyQMvr5<\/a><\/p>\n