Lee Westwood has dismissed Rory McIlroy's critique of LIV Golf's transition to 72-hole tournaments, declaring he pays little heed to the Northern Irishman's views.
Speaking on talkSPORT's Breakfast Show on Thursday morning, the former world number one responded curtly when questioned about McIlroy's description of the format change as "peculiar".
"I don't know. I don't pay too much attention to what Rory says, really," Westwood stated. "He'll change his mind for next week."
The sharp retort came after McIlroy questioned the Saudi-backed circuit's decision to abandon its signature 54-hole format from 2026, suggesting the move represented a retreat from its original disruptive vision.
Lee Westwood has hit back at Rory McIlroy over LIV Golf's rule change
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Westwood championed the forthcoming changes during his radio appearance, arguing the shift would deliver advantages across multiple fronts.
"I think it was good for the players, good for the sponsors. And good for the fans more than anything. They get to see another day's golf," he explained.
The 51-year-old acknowledged that securing Official World Golf Ranking points formed part of the rationale behind the decision.
"I think [OWGR points] is one of the angles behind it," Westwood noted, whilst recognising that 54-hole events have previously earned ranking points.
He suggested the four-round format would likely assist in satisfying the criteria necessary for world ranking recognition.
Lee Westwood insisted the LIV Golf change will help the institution going forward
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The Saudi-funded league has encountered significant commercial challenges since its inception in 2022, struggling to establish credibility despite recruiting high-profile players including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.
The absence of world ranking points has created particular difficulties for players lacking major championship exemptions, who risk career damage through inevitable rankings decline after leaving the PGA Tour.
Even established stars have faltered at golf's premier events, with Tyrrell Hatton's fourth-place finish at this year's US Open marking LIV's strongest major showing in 2025.
Across 14 majors since the league's launch, merely two victories have emerged from LIV players - Brooks Koepka's 2023 PGA Championship triumph and DeChambeau's 2024 US Open success.
Westwood revealed that several LIV players had expressed concerns about competitive disadvantages when preparing for major championships whilst competing in three-round events.
"Some of the guys focused their whole season around the major championships. And playing 54 holes was putting them at a bit of a disadvantage," he explained.
The veteran golfer indicated that players desired a format more closely resembling major championship conditions.
"I think they wanted to play 72 holes - that represented more the major championship format," Westwood added.
Two-time major winner Jon Rahm publicly endorsed the changes, characterising the decision as beneficial for players in his statement accompanying LIV Golf's announcement on Tuesday.