Rory McIlroy’s softer LIV Golf stance hasn’t gone unnoticed by certain members of the rebel league’s family.
Taking to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, Jena Sims — who is married to LIV Golf star and five-time major champion Brooks Koepka — reacted to recent comments made by McIlroy, in which the Northern Irishman said: “I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys that went [to LIV Golf] at the start.”
“New Year, New Rory,” Sims wrote alongside a post from X that highlighted McIlroy’s remarks.
Once regarded as one of the most outspoken critics of LIV Golf, McIlroy offered a different take this week when discussing his peers leaping the Saudi-backed league, which now incl𒈔udes reignไing Masters champion Jon Rahm.
“I th♓ink at this point, I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys that went [to LIV Golf] at the start, and I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realize not everyone is in my position or in Tiger’s [Woods] position,” on the “⛦Stick to Football” podcast.
“We all turn professional to make a living playing the sports that we do, and I think that’s what I realized over the last two years. I can’t judge people for making that decision.”
Much has changed since LIV Golf’s inaugural season in 2022.
In June, the PGA Tour announced it would be merging into one company with LIV Golf, ending a🙈 civil war within the sp🅰ort.
Although both parties set a Dec. 31, 2023, deadline for the talks, The Tour informed players negotiations with the Public Investment Fund of Saudia Arabia would continue in 2024.
When LIV Golf opens the 2024 season in February, Rahm — who agreed to a deal north of $300 million — will join Koepka, 33, Dustin Johnson, Ph꧋il Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, among others, who lept to the rebel league in 2022.
Koepka, who won his third PGA Championship in May following a second-place finish at the 2023 Masters, welcomed the new year with Sims, 35, in Mexico, where they attended a friend’s wedding.
The couple got playful with the sparklers as Koepka held them close to Sims’ bedazzled bra top.
It was a memorable year for Koepka and Sims, 35, who became first-time parents in July with the birth of their son, Crew.
Sims was also named a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie after becoming a finalist in the publication’s annual SwimSearch.
She and Koepka tied the knot in 2022.
