Rory McIlroy publicly criticized the PGA Tour’s proposed two-tier tournament system and LIV Golf’s influence on professional golf on June 16, 2026, ahead of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills [1, 2, 3].

McIlroy said LIV Golf created a “false economy” that forced the PGA Tour to increase prize funds to $20 million for eight signature events and reduce tournament field sizes to retain top players. He added, “LIV created this false economy where we had to up prize funds and had to cut fields and try to support top players and all that stuff, which I think needed to happen because that was the only way to retain talent at the time” [1, 2, 3].

The future of LIV Golf remains uncertain after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which invested $5 billion in the league, announced it will cease funding LIV at the end of 2026 [1, 3].

In response, the PGA Tour plans to implement a controversial two-track system by the 2028 season. Track 1 will feature about 15 to 18 main events plus four majors, while Track 2 will resemble a “glorified Korn Ferry Tour” with smaller prize funds and fields [1, 2, 3]. McIlroy expressed concern that established tournaments like the Canadian Open could lose status if their sponsors do not pay up to $30 million to remain in Track 1. He said, "An event like last week, the Canadian Open potentially going to one of these Track 2s -- and Track 2 is a glorified Korn Ferry event, that's just what Track 2 is going to be. So I don't think the Canadian Open should be one of those, and I just think there's going to be certain events that lose their stature if their sponsor doesn't pony up $30 million" [1, 2, 3].

The PGA Tour is expected to finalize and announce details of the two-track system after discussions in summer 2026, with implementation projected for 2028 [3]. Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO, acknowledged the complexity of the new model, saying, “there’s all sorts of questions... It looks like it's more '28 just because of the complexity of not only the competitive model, but also the commercial things you need to do” [3].

McIlroy is set to begin his campaign for a second US Open title at Shinnecock Hills on June 18, 2026 [1].