‘There is no truth to this story’: Rory McIlroy backed in new LIV row

An explosive extract on Rory McIlroy in a new book has caused quite the stir on social media. 

In his new release ‘LIV or Let Die’, which details the ongoing battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, journalist Alan Shipnuck published comments attributed to an unnamed “LIV golfer and one of McIlroy’s former Ryder Cup teammates”.

In an impassioned rant about McIlroy, who has long been a fervent critic of the Saudi-backed league, he said: “F*** Rory. I’m so sick of hearing about how he’s some kind of hero who is saving golf. He’s bought and paid for like everybody else, it’s just that his money is coming from the other side.

“Did you know that when Whoop wanted to do a deal with the PGA Tour, the Tour insisted that Rory be one of the endorsers? He was given a $10 million equity stake that is now worth $200 million. How do you think he got his own deal with NBC?

“The Tour brokered that, too. The Tour is so reliant on Rory now they’ve given him his own league (TGL), even though it will compete with the Tour for viewers and advertisers.

“Rory’s fighting so hard for the Tour because he wants to preserve his revenue streams, not because he cares about the Tour itself. That he is being held up as some kind of saviour on Twitter and by all the fanboys with their shitty podcasts tells you how little people really understand what’s going on.”

• Rory McIlroy handed surprise award nomination

• Jon Rahm responds to Rory McIlroy’s Ryder Cup rule U-turn

But these claims have since been disputed by Will Ahmed, the founder and CEO of Whoop – a technology company that sponsors McIlroy – who posted on X: “There is no truth to this story. I would know as I run Whoop. Furthermore Rory and his team are all class – one of the best not just in golf but all of sports.”

Ahmed then appears to take aim at Shipnuck for including the quote, signing off his post by describing it as “inaccurate reporting”.

There is no truth to this story. I would know as I run whoop. Furthermore Rory and his team are all class – one of the best not just in golf but all of sports.

Inaccurate reporting. @NUCLRGOLF @AlanShipnuck https://t.co/m83MxESZtN

— Will Ahmed (@willahmed) December 12, 2023

• Tony Finau denies reports that he joining LIV Golf

• PGA Tour pros submit lawyer’s letter to Policy Board

Ahmed posted a similar message on Instagram, albeit without the “inaccurate reporting” claim, but Shipnuck soon responded.

“I asked McIlroy’s manager Sean O’Flaherty to fact-check that passage and the only comment he would give me is, ‘Has the Ryder Cup teammate been drinking?’ It’s in the book,” he wrote.

You can listen to Alan Shipnuck talking about ‘LIV and Let Die’ on The bunkered Podcast.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.