Despite being on opposite sides of the issue, McIlroy and Rahm both expressed positive opinions about LIV Golf’s new CEO.

Although Rory McIlroy may eventually share Jon Rahm's optimism about the state of professional golf, he currently does not believe the sport is in its "golden era" -- as the Spaniard suggested on Tuesday.

At the Dubai Desert Classic, Jon Rahm said “we’re living in a golden era right now for golf,” which Rory McIlroy didn’t quite agree with.

Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm will go up against each other in Dubai this week, and the pair are in disagreement over the current state of men's professional golf amid the PGA Tour-LIV fallout

Golfing prodigy Tom McKibbin is reportedly nearing a LIV Golf move, having earned his stripes under the tutelage of Rory McIlroy.

Rahm went on to dub it “unfair” that the LIV Golf league does not receive points yet. It is pertinent to note that the former Ryder Cup star is the highest-profile player to jump to the breakaway circuit after the PGA Tour-PIF framework agreement announcement in 2023.

Rory McIlroy will be joined by a raft of LIV Golf stars at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with the Northern Irishman looking to claim victory at the Rolex Series event

Rory McIlroy has said that Greg Norman's departure as CEO of LIV Golf is "probably a good move" while Jon Rahm believes it gives the Saudi-backed league a "less threatening image." LIV is moving forward with sports executive Scott O'Neil as its CEO,

Rory McIlroy has never hidden his frustration with Greg Norman, frequently criticizing the Australian as he helped launch the LIV Golf League and, in McIlroy’s mind, initiated the schism with the PGA Tour that has harmed men’s professional golf.