Asked about his long-term plans, the Northern Irishman insisted he would not be visiting the Champions Tour once he's retired from pro golf

Rory McIlroy has been known to take some sharp U-turns on his opinions over the last few years, particularly as it relates to the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. He was willing to state another position Wednesday as strong as any.

McIlroy, who added that he still has plenty of things he hopes to accomplish in his golf career, has myriad interests outside of golf including as the co-founder of TGL and a growing business portfolio,

Rory McIlroy has no interest in playing on the Champions tour down the road: "Something has went terribly wrong if I have to compete at golf at 50."

If context is king, Rory McIlroy’s press conference early Wednesday at The Players Championship certainly needs its share of qualifiers. On the eve of the circuit’s flagship event, the Northern Irishman was asked about a potential career on the PGA Tour Champions and the headlines were immediately predictable: “McIlroy on senior tour: Absolutely not.

Credit Rory McIlroy, then, for spinning the conversation forward. McIlroy has taken plenty of shots at LIV Golf over the last three years, some of which he's had to walk back. But one element of LIV's strategy has struck a chord with McIlroy: the breakaway league's international focus.