Rory McIlroy: Brooks Koepka PGA Tour return indicative of LIV Golf decline

Masters champion Rory McIlroy believes Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour is indicative of a decline in LIV Golf.

The five-time major winner’s swift reinstatement, less than a month after leaving his contract with the Saudi breakaway league a year early, has been widely welcomed by many of the top professionals.

His departure persuaded the PGA Tour to re-write their rules to accommodate him within a specific penalty framework and even offer a window for the likes of fellow big names Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cam Smith to return.

"If there's help to be had I'll definitely take it!"

Rory McIlroy explains the reason behind using new clubs and a new ball for the 2026 season 👀#DubaiInvitational pic.twitter.com/yf6Wn4dPjl

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 15, 2026

McIlroy, whose first competitive round of the year saw him shoot a five-under 66 to lead the Dubai Invitational, said that showed the current state of play.

“It’s not as if they made any huge signings this year, is it?” the Northern Irishman told The Daily Telegraph.

“They haven’t signed anyone who moves the needle and I don’t think they will.

“I mean, they could re-sign Bryson for hundreds of millions of dollars, but even if they do, it doesn’t change their product does it?

“They’ll just be paying for the exact same thing. And they’ve lost Brooks.”

McIlroy has switched from blade to cavity-back irons, the type used by the vast majority of amateur golfers as they are more forgiving, for the new season and was happy with the transition at the Dubai Creek Resort.

“If there is help to be had I’ll definitely take it. I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” he told Sky Sports.

“I’ve got a new golf ball in play this week but overall I’ve liked what I’ve seen at home and today was a good test for it and I felt everything was pretty good. Overall a nice way to start the year.”

McIlroy appeared to get to grips with the new set up immediately as he reached the turn in a five-under 31.

Starting from the 10th he was inches away from an eagle but that set the tone for the first of seven birdies in 10 holes as, with his wedges dialled in, he hit his approaches all inside 11 feet on five par fours.

This week’s Dubai Invitational is being played in remembrance of promising young golfer Emanuele Galeppini, and in memory of the 40 people who tragically lost their lives in Crans Montana on New Year’s Day. pic.twitter.com/mpIOB7SkG7

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 15, 2026

His only blemishes came with a missed short putt at the 12th and the third, where he failed to escape from the sand having driven into a greenside bunker, but further frustration was to follow as he could only par his way home.

Play was paused midway through the day to remember young golfer Emanuele Galeppini, due to be junior captain at Dubai Creek this year, and the 39 other people who died in a fire in Crans Montana, Switzerland, on New Year’s Day.

Scotland’s Connoy Syme and Spain’s David Puig are one shot behind with England’s Matt Wallace, who had an eagle and six birdies in a nine-hole run, in the group on three under after dropping shots late in his round.