Rory McIlroy Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

When LIV Golf first began and started luring players away from the PGA Tour, golf superstar Rory McIlroy was one of the staunchest critics of the Saudi-backed league. And it sounds like he has regrets about that.

During a press conference ahead of the RBC Canadian Open, Rory McIlroy admitted that he regrets how much he criticized LIV Golf early on and how involved he got in standing against the Saudi-backed league.

“I think, in hindsight, I wish I hadn’t have gotten involved or not hadn’t gotten involved, hadn’t have gotten as deeply involved in it, and I’ve articulated that,” McIlroy explained to reporters. “I hold no grudge, I hold no resentment over the guys that chose to go and play on LIV. Everyone’s got their own decisions to make and everyone is, has the right to make those decisions.

“My whole thing is I’m just disappointed with what it’s done to, not to the game of golf, the game of golf will be fine, but men’s professional golf and this sort of divide we have at the minute. Hopefully, we’re on a path to sorting that out and getting that to come back together, but in hindsight, I wish I hadn’t gotten as deeply involved as I have.”

McIlroy has certainly softened his stance on LIV Golf in recent months as the Tour and LIV seek out a sort of alliance to unify professional golf once again. These comments are another sign of that.

[NBC Sports]