'That says something about you': Rory McIlroy reignites Bryson DeChambeau feud with fresh LIV swipe

Rory McIlroy has taken a veiled swipe at the stars of the LIV Golf circuit, although admitting he was too "judgemental" on the breakaway tour, he questioned why top players would not want to compete against the world's best every week.

Speaking ahead of the Truist Championship in Charlotte, McIlroy delivered a pointed message regarding the future of the game and the potential return of "rebel" players to the traditional tours.

"If you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, (the PGA Tour) is the place to be," McIlroy told reporters.

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"And if you don't want to play here, I think that says something about you."

While McIlroy avoided naming names, his comments felt directed at one of LIV's biggest names, Bryson DeChambeau.

The timing of McIlroy's comments is no accident.

DeChambeau's LIV contract expires at the end of the 2026 season, and the two-time US Open winner is reportedly demanding a new $68.5 million AUD deal.

However, the financial landscape of the rebel tour is shifting.

With LIV CEO Scott O'Neil reportedly hunting for private investment to replace the heavy lifting of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), McIlroy couldn't resist a cheeky jab at the league's costs.

"They're going to go and try and find alternative investment, whatever that may look like," McIlroy said.

"But when one of the wealthiest sovereign wealth funds in the world thinks that you're too expensive for them, that sort of says something."

The Northern Irishman's rhetoric acknowledged that the PGA Tour and its European counterpart would be objectively better with the world's best talent back in the field.

"It all depends on what happens to LIV," McIlroy said further.

"But if it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, you know, I think (PGA Tour CEO) Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this Tour stronger, anything that makes the European Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that.

"That's just good business practice.

"Obviously, the guys over there are under contract and if they are able to keep it going and get a schedule together next year, it seems like those guys are still going to play the majority of their golf on LIV, in whatever form it takes.

"I'm not going to judge anyone for not wanting to play on the PGA Tour.

"I don't know, does that mean that they go play DP World Tour, maybe; if that's a pathway, that would make the DP World Tour stronger, and I would be delighted with that."

Australia's Cameron Smith has been a vocal advocate for the LIV Tour to continue in some way without the PIF's backing.

Meanwhile, Smith's teammate and compatriot Lucas Herbert has a six-shot lead going into the weekend at LIV Virginia.

Herbert went bogey-free at Trump National for a nine-under 63. Herbert has yet to win in his third season on LIV Golf, though he has won on the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour over the last two years.

This would be he best chance yet, especially with the lead and how he's playing.

"I lost track of what score I was on most of the day," said Herbert, who sits at 17-under for the tournament.

Herbert began the week feeling ill and didn’t see the front nine until the opening round when he shot 64.

"l came into the week with very, very low expectations, so I think I'm probably going to try and stick to that." Herbert said.

"I want to go out there tomorrow, and I want to make some golf swings that I don't think I've been able to make for 12 months."

Jon Rahm and DeChambeau, both two-time winners on LIV this year were 12 shots behind.

- With AP