Rory McIlroy's brutal response when asked if he'd want LIV Golf stars back on PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy has issued a brutal response when asked about his thoughts on LIV Golf stars potentially returning to the PGA Tour.

The LIV Golf League faces an uncertain future, with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirming in April that they would not fund the circuit beyond 2026.

According to reports, the PIF have pumped an eye-watering $5 billion into the league since its launch in 2022, and as it stands, losing that investment could be fatal.

In a conscious effort to keep the league running, CEO Scott O'Neil pitched a revamped “LIV 2.0” to prospective investors in July, as LIV bosses race against time to raise the $350 million required to keep the tour going.

Worryingly, questions are now being raised about the future of LIV's biggest and best players, including John Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.

Rahm officially joined LIV in the 2024 season and is set to decide his future in the coming weeks as the final event of the campaign rapidly approaches.

The two-time major winner could return to the PGA Tour in 2027 after insiders said they are "almost resigned" to losing him, and the same applies to DeChambeau, whose contract is set to expire after this week's event.

DeChambeau is already set for a surprise return to the DP World Tour when he makes his debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in December, but when asked about the prospect of welcoming the duo back onto the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy issued a brutal response.

The Northern Irishman, who has arguably been LIV's biggest critic since the rival league was formed in 2022, gave his latest verdict on the league's immediate future and the possibility of some of its star players making their way back to the PGA Tour.

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"I would argue, have they brought value to LIV? You know? I think the PGA Tour's in a really good spot," he responded when asked whether returning LIV players would bring value to the Tour.

McIlroy has already openly admitted that he isn't particularly fond of DeChambeau, and this was evident at The Open last month when the world No.2 described the American's behaviour as "performative" after he received a two-stroke penalty for inadvertently improving his lie.

Scottie Scheffler would welcome back John Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau

While the six-time major winner is against Rahm and DeChambeau returning to the PGA Tour, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler welcomes the idea, although he does think they should face consequences for jumping ship in the first place.

"There's definitely some players that would provide a lot of value to the Tour, and guys that I love competing against as well," Scheffler told reporters ahead of this week's BMW Championship, the second leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

"So I think going forward there obviously has to be, I think, some sort of penalties. What those are, I'll let [PGA Tour CEO Brian] Rolapp and all those guys figure it out."

Scheffler added that he would relish the chance to compete against LIV's best players more regularly again on the Tour.

"I think for me being able to compete against the best players in the world there's certainly some guys on that Tour that can compete out here and I look forward to the chance to compete with them more often," he continued.

Rahm and DeChambeau will have their futures decided in the coming weeks, and it remains unclear whether a return to the PGA Tour is on the cards.