Lee Westwood Responds to Rory McIlroy’s LIV Comments
There appears to be some tension between former Ryder Cup teammates Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy. LIV Golf surprised the golf world on Tuesday by announcing significant changes to their tournament formats starting in 2026.
Despite the format update, the friction between players on competing tours remains. On Wednesday, Rory McIlroy described LIV’s shift to 72-hole events as “peculiar” and questioned whether it would help the Saudi-backed league secure Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status.
Westwood’s Rebuttal
On Thursday, Lee Westwood, another former Ryder Cup teammate of McIlroy’s, responded during an appearance on the talkSPORT Breakfast Show, where he addressed Rory’s remarks frankly.
“I don’t pay too much attention to what Rory says. He’ll change his mind for next week.”
Westwood also offered insight into LIV’s motivations, suggesting the format change is partially driven by a desire for OWGR points.
“I think [OWGR points] is one of the angles behind it. I think there were a few different things. Some of the guys focused their whole season around the major championships and playing 54 holes was putting them at a bit of a disadvantage.”
He explained that moving to 72 holes better aligns with the major championship style, which was important for some players. He added uncertainty about whether the format meets OWGR criteria since 54-hole tournaments have previously received ranking points.
Summary
LIV Golf’s upcoming shift to 72-hole events has reignited rivalry tensions, with Westwood dismissing McIlroy’s criticism and emphasizing factors like player preferences and world ranking considerations behind the change.
Author’s summary: LIV Golf's format change highlights ongoing disputes among elite golfers, with Westwood defending the move and questioning McIlroy’s stance.