McIlroy floats 'Champions League' golf format

European soccer's top-tier title competition serves as a model for Rory McIlroy's "Champions League" idea pitched for the future of golf.

McIlroy, in Dubai to defend his Dubai Desert Classic title, talked about a world tour with the best players challenged by the best from other tours.

"The way I view it is a bit like Champions League in football," the four-time major champ said. "It's like the best of the best in Europe, and then all of the other leagues feed up into it.

"There's lots of different tours getting interest and a lot of great players, but if you want to create something that is real value for the game of golf, I think it's this top-level tour and then all the other tours feed into it."

'I view it like the Champions League' 🏆

Rory McIlroy hopes to see a framework in golf where at the very top level is a Champions League style tour where the very best can compete ⛳ pic.twitter.com/BqetdzkRHq

— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) January 17, 2024

The world's best golfers would have to maintain excellence to stay at the top while players in tiers below would have to earn their way in.

McIlroy, previously a vocal opponent of LIV Golf, has reconsidered his position and can envision its usefulness.

A Saudi-centric version of LIV potentially joining with the PGA Tour has provided further credence.

World No 1 Scottie Scheffler is taking a wait-and-see approach.

"(All the outside discussions are) not really a big topic of discussion for us in our day-to-day lives," Scheffler said on Wednesday.

"I think ... going out to dinner and stuff like that with the guys out here, conversations are a bit different than they have been in the past, but that's just because we got some stuff we need to figure out. ...

"When I go out there to practice I'm trying to get my work in, and I wouldn't say it's a distraction for me."

McIlroy, 34, also underscored the importance of acting quickly.

"If this global tour somehow comes to fruition in the next few years, could you imagine bringing the best 70 or 80 golfers in the world to India for a tournament?" he said.

"I think (it) would change the game and the perception of the game in a country like that. So again, there's so much opportunity out there to go global with it.

"I've said this for the last few months, but golf is at an inflection point, and if golf doesn't do it now, I fear that it will never do it and we'll sort of have this fractured landscape forever."

The soccer-style format is an appealing idea to increase competition.

"There's promotion and relegation and you have to earn your way in and you have to earn your spot to stay in," McIlroy said. "I think that's really important, too."

As to immediate steps, McIlroy proposed aligning interests "of the players, the business, the fans and the media and try to get everyone aligned. Once you do that, then you can move forward."