Rory McIlroy is reportedly set to go back on his word and join LIV Golf in a blockbuster deal that would send ripple effects across professional golf. The Northern Irishman was LIV Golf’s biggest critic when it first emerged as a rival to the PGA Tour. McIlroy’s stance began to soften last year when the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund signed a framework agreement for a possible partnership. But while the four-time major champion was open to the idea of a merger, he continued to ‘hate LIV’ and even went as far to say he would retire if the Saudi-backed tour was the ‘last plac…