Ahead of the BMW Championship, World No. 2 Rory McIlroy questioned the value of LIV Golfers, while his former Ryder Cup teammate Lee Westwood countered his arguments. The LIV star doesn't find the Irishman's comment to be "well thought out."

LIV Golf’s future hangs in the balance. If the league dissolves, Rory doesn’t see a future for LIV Golf stars on the PGA Tour. That didn’t sit well with Westwood. 

"I heard Rory's comments yesterday. I thought Scottie [Scheffler] answered the question well, and Rory's answer was just typical of Rory, really,” said Westwood. “It wasn't well thought out. There are a lot of players on this tour who bring value to tournaments."

McIlroy has always been open about his criticism of LIV Golf and its players. In contrast, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler offered a different view, saying he would welcome LIV stars.

Westwood himself has got an invite to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October. Alongside another LIV star, Ian Poulter, Westwood will make their first starts on the DPWT in more than three years. Certainly, the pair would bring value to the $5m event.

"I really don't care what people think, to be perfectly honest," Westwood told TNT Sports. “I think it illustrates the fact that people like LIV players playing in their events, promoters and sponsors, no matter which tour they're on. They bring quality to tournaments.”

Westwood's argument mirrors the reality as stars like Rahm and DeChambeau draw fans. Their reinstatement into the PGA Tour will fuel competitiveness and be a breath of fresh air.

The PGA Tour’s Returning Members Program was also an indication that the American circuit was open to reinstating the big stars earlier this year. 

McIlroy was determined that the LIV Golfers would have a tough road back this time around.

Rory McIlroy on LIV stars’ ‘tough road back’

At the start of this year, the PGA Tour had brought out the Returning Members Program to open a pathway for LIV stars to return. However, only five-time major winner Brooks Koepka took it. 

McIlroy believes things will be different in the future. 

"They were offered this returning member programme back in February, the one Brooks [Koepka] took,” said McIlroy, as per BBC's David Mohan. “But that has come and gone and I think it was said at the time that the deal they get going forward if they decide to come back would not be as good at the one Brooks got. So I'd say it will be a tough road back." 

As part of his reinstatement, Koepka had to pay a $5 million contribution to PGA Tour charities.

On top of that, the former World No.1 will be ineligible to earn equity from the Player Equity Program for the next five years. 

The rebel tour stars should certainly brace themselves for heavier penalties if they ever decide to jump ship again.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Rudra Dubey