Rory McIlroy Calls for Ryder Cup Rules Changes After Jon Rahm Joins LIV Golf
Rory McIlroy is calling for a change to the Ryder Cup rules in the aftermath of Jon Rahm’s move to the LIV Golf League.
In an interview with Sky Sports, McIlroy made it clear he has no ill-will toward Rahm and wants the Spaniard to be his teammate at Bethpage Black in 2025.
“Jon is going to be in Bethpage in 2025 so, because of this decision, the European Tour (DP World Tour) are going to have to rewrite the rules for the Ryder Cup eligibility,’’ McIlroy told Sky. “There’s absolutely no question about that – I certainly want Jon Rahm on the next Ryder Cup team.
“I’m going to miss competing against him week in and week out. He has got so much talent, he’s so tenacious and he’s a great teammate in the Ryder Cup. The thing that I’ve realized is that you can’t judge someone for making a decision that they feel is the best thing for them.’’
The European side of the Ryder Cup did not allow anyone who was playing for LIV Golf to be considered for the 2023 team that defeated the United States in Rome. The likes of Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were not part of the team, even in a vice captaincy role. Henrik Stenson, originally named captain, had the job taken away and given to Luke Donald.
Rahm had been outspoken in the run-up to the Ryder Cup that participation in LIV Golf should not have impacted the decision on European players. Now he admits he is “taking a risk’’ as far as the Ryder Cup is concerned.
“Is it disappointing to me?’’ McIlroy said of Rahm’s decision. “Yes, but the landscape of golf changed on June 6th, when the framework agreement was announced and I think because of that it made the map from the PGA Tour LIV a little easier for guys.
“They let the first guys really take the heat and then this framewrok agreement legitimized basically what LIV was trying to do, then I think it’s made it easier now if that’s really what you want to do.’’