Rory regrets his hard line on LIV

RORY McIlroy has conceded he was "too judgmental" in his criticisms of those who joined the breakaway LIV Golf Tour.

The Northern Irishman took a strident position against the big-money venture, which tempted a host of top names with lavish paydays and disrupted the established order of the PGA and European Tours.

McIlroy became the de facto voice of opposition to the project, which has continued to divide the sport, and said during last year's Ryder Cup in Rome that Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter would miss being part of the European team more than they would be missed.

Now, with talks ongoing to agree a merger between the rival parties, McIlroy has taken a tentative step towards rapprochement. He said: "I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV Golf at the start.